After a year of political violence, social tension and controversy, the United States has officially closed the book on 2025.
With President Donald Trump nearing one full year back in office, Americans are gearing up for another intense midterm election campaign. Democrats will seek new momentum to counter the polarizing policies of the Trump administration, while Republicans prepare to go on defense, seeking to protect the unpopular policymaking of the Trump administration.
The mood going into the 2026 elections will be mirrored through several key elections in Wisconsin, being held in all three branches of the state government. Further, these elections could have national implications, providing a preview of what’s to come in the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential campaign.
Here are the elections Wisconsin pundits will be watching this year.
Spring Supreme Court election
Incumbent Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley announced at the end of August 2025 she is not seeking reelection to the state’s highest court, setting up yet another showdown for a spot on the bench. While ideological control will not be up for grabs in 2026, liberals are seeking to expand their current 4-3 majority on the court after Justice Susan Crawford was elected in April 2025.
While judicial elections are officially “nonpartisan,” campaigns have become increasingly political in recent years. Wisconsin Democrats have already endorsed State Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor in the spring election, with conservative Judge Maria Lazar of Waukesha County challenging her.
An October Marquette Law School Poll found that while name recognition for both candidates is under 20%, 69% of registered voters surveyed said they are “absolutely certain” to vote in the Supreme Court election. Another 20% say they are “very likely” to vote. The election will be held in the spring cycle, with final votes being cast on April 7.
Control of governor’s mansion
Incumbent Democratic Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced in July 2025 he would not seek a third term. This means — for the first time in over 15 years — no incumbent governor will seek reelection in the gubernatorial election.
On the Republican side, Representative Tom Tiffany from Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District is facing off against Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann. The same October law poll found that Tiffany has a substantial advantage over Schoemann amongst GOP voters; however, 70% of GOP respondents identified as undecided between the two.
The Democratic side is more crowded, with more than six candidates tossing their hat into the race, including:
- Sara Rodriguez, incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
- Mandela Barnes, former Lieutenant Governor and 2022 candidate for U.S. Senate
- David Crowley, Milwaukee County Executive
- Francesca Hong, Representative from Assembly District 76 (Madison)
- Kelda Roys, Senator from State Senate District 26 (Madison)
- Missy Hughes, former CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
- Brett Hulsey, former representative from Assembly District 78 (Dane County)
- Joel Brennan, former Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary
Battle over congressional maps
Two separate three-judge panels are set to hear lawsuits challenging Wisconsin’s current congressional map. The lawsuits allege that the state’s current maps are unfairly gerrymandered to favor Republicans, a controversy that has been ongoing in Wisconsin for more than a decade.
Republicans currently hold six of Wisconsin’s eight seats in the House of Representatives, despite the state alternating between Democratic and Republican candidates in the last four presidential elections.
It is currently unclear whether new maps would be drawn in time for the 2026 midterms should the lawsuit be successful. Conservative justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court have labeled the move a “political stunt” as the three judge panels were appointed directly by the liberal majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court justices.
“Handpicking circuit court judges to perform political maneuvering is unimaginable,” Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler wrote in her dissenting opinion in November 2025. “Yet, my colleagues persist, all in furtherance of delivering partisan, political advantage to the Democratic Party.”
Fight for Wisconsin Legislature
Democrats are seen as contenders to take back the Wisconsin State Senate majority for the first time in over a decade. This comes after Democrats picked up four seats in the chamber following redistricting in 2024, shrinking the GOP majority from 22-11 to 18-15.
Some of the most competitive districts in the upcoming elections include:
- Senate District 5, currently held by Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield)
- Senate District 17, currently held by Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green)
- Senate District 21, currently held by Van Wanggaard (R-Racine)
- Senate District 31, currently held by Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick)
The spring elections in Wisconsin will be held on Tuesday, April 7. Midterm election primaries will be held on Aug. 11, before the general election on Nov. 3. Voters can visit myvote.wi.gov for information about how to vote in all elections for the 2026 cycle.
This story was written by Sahil Gupta. He can be reached at [email protected].
