Only once out of 140 gubernatorial primaries has a Badger State political party placed more than six candidates on the ballot

Democratic Party of Wisconsin logoDuring the two-plus months since Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced he would not seek a third term in 2026, the number of announced Democrats launching bids to hold the seat for the party is approaching historic levels.

On Monday, former Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation CEO Melissa Hughes joined a Democratic field that has now reached eight candidates including Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, three sitting or former state legislators (Senator Kelda Roys, Assemblywoman Francesca Hong, ex-Assemblyman Brett Hulsey), and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.

Last cycle’s 84th Assembly District Democratic nominee Zachary Roper and political newcomer Ryan Strnad round out the field.

The largest gubernatorial primary field for any political party in Wisconsin history is 10 candidates – set by the Democrats in 2018 when Evers unseated Governor Scott Walker. [Note: Two of these candidates – Andy Gronik and Dana Wachs – suspended their campaigns prior to the primary, but their names still appeared on the ballot].

While some of the eight Democrats currently running for the open seat could end their campaigns prior to the filing window (April 15-June 1), it is also likely more candidates will yet enter the race prior to the August 11th primary.

But even if Democratic primary voters end up with only seven choices for their nominee by next August, that would still be the second largest primary field for the office in state history.

Democrats have placed more than four Democrats on the primary ballot in just two other cycles across the 44 held since the first such contest in 1912:

  • 1942: Kaukauna dentist William Sullivan emerged victorious from a six-candidate field by the narrowest victory margin for the office in party history with a record low 24.3 percent plurality
  • 2012: Milwaukee Mayor and former U.S. Representative Tom Barrett cruised to a 24-point victory against ex-Dane County Executive Katherine Falk in a five candidate field

Republicans peaked at six candidates twice and five candidates in three other cycles:

  • 1914: Milwaukee Police Commissioner Emanuel Philipp won a six-candidate primary with a plurality of 35.1 percent
  • 1920: Attorney General John Blaine was nominated from six candidates with 29.9 percent of the vote – the lowest support ever received by a GOP gubernatorial nominee
  • 1944: Ascended Governor Walter Goodland easily held off four challengers with a 47.2 percent plurality victory
  • 1946: Governor Goodland was renominated with 42.5 percent – edging Wisconsin Adjutant General Ralph Immell by 3.4 points in a five-candidate field
  • 1986: State Assembly Minority Leader Tommy Thompson cruised to a 29.8-point victory against four challengers in the first of his four nomination victories

The Progressive Party also fielded five candidates once during the six cycles in which they held primaries for governor from 1934 to 1944: in 1940, former Attorney General and state legislator Orland Loomis was nominated with 33.1 percent – 6.2 points ahead of Chippewa Falls attorney Harold Stafford.

Other third parties to appear on a gubernatorial primary ballot over the last century-plus include the Socialists (15 times), Prohibitionists (11), Libertarians (five), Wisconsin Greens (four), People’s Progressives (twice), American (twice), Conservatives (twice), Labor-Farmers (twice), U.S. Taxpayers (twice), and Social Democrats (once).

The 2026 field is also bracing for the potential candidacies of Attorney General Josh Kaul and former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes.

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