Tom Tiffany is running for governor, but no Trump endorsement … yet

The Republican congressman supports mining, opposes reproductive rights, cheers the president’s tariffs, and voted to reject states’ electoral votes as part of Trump 2020 election scheme.

Congressman Tom Tiffany gave the 2026 race for governor something it had been lacking: a Republican with widespread name recognition. By announcing Tuesday, Tiffany propelled himself to frontrunner status as the GOP tries to take back the state’s top office after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ retirement.

“I give us the best chance to win in 2026,” Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) said on a radio show hosted by conservative Dan O’Donnell. “I will not allow our state to be dragged down that woke and broke road.”

Tiffany, who represents the 7th Congressional District across the northern third of the state, entered the race. Interestingly, however, he did so without an endorsement yet from President Donald Trump. It’s a noticeable departure from last year when US Rep. Tony Wied got an endorsement from Trump before he even announced his run in the 8th District.

It will not be a surprise if Trump gets around to endorsing Tiffany as the two are inseparable on the issues — and Tiffany went so far as to vote in support of Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election results. 

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin was quick to respond to Tiffany’s entry, releasing a TV ad that emphasizes his support for Trump’s trade war, the tariffs that American consumers have to pay, and the loss of international markets for Wisconsin farmers.

(Democratic Party of Wisconsin ad)

“Tariff-lover Tom Tiffany is raising your cost of living,” begins an ad shared with UpNorthNews just prior to its release. It emphasizes higher prices for a range of goods since Trump took office.

DPW state chair Devin Remiker called Tiffany “a bought and paid for stooge who will vote to take health care and food security away from children, the elderly, and veterans to give billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. We’re going to show Wisconsinites what a fraud he is and defeat him next November.”

Other candidates hoping to succeed Evers “welcomed” Tiffany to the race.

“The choice couldn’t be clearer,” said Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison). “While Tom Tiffany works for Donald Trump, I work for the people of Wisconsin.”

Republican Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann told the Associated Press he was looking forward to a primary “focused on ideas and winning back the governor’s office.”

Name ID comes with a price

While Tiffany has public recognition for his roles in Congress and a seven-year stint in the Legislature, it is name ID built on an agenda not designed to win over moderate voters. Tiffany has won in solidly Republican districts with positions against women’s reproductive rights, in favor of potentially allowing open pit mining in northern Wisconsin, hostile to workers’ rights, opposed to affordable health care, and dismissive of gun safety proposals. In defending a vote against helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s invasion, Tiffany said he’s not sure he would have supported the landmark 1941 deal that enabled Great Britain to fend off an invasion from Nazi Germany.

“Tom Tiffany can run for Governor, but he can’t hide from his record,” said Mike Browne of the progressive group A Better Wisconsin Together. Time and again he’s taken terrible votes and supported terrible policies that do harm to working people, families and our communities here in Wisconsin.”