Over the past few years, we’ve learned the hard way that our democracy is more fragile than we once thought — and therefore, every election is important. With that in mind, here’s what you need to know about Wisconsin elections in 2026.
Wisconsin voters will choose a new governor in the new year, with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers choosing not to run for a third term. There is already a large and growing field of candidates seeking the state’s highest elected office.
There will also be elections for other state offices, all eight of Wisconsin’s seats in the US House of Representatives, all 99 Assembly districts, about half of the state legislature’s 33 Senate districts, and some county-level offices and judgeships. And that’s just the fall election. There will also be spring elections.
🗓️ There are four dates to keep in mind:
Feb. 17 – Primary elections, where needed, for local nonpartisan races (school boards, etc.)
April 7 – Spring general election for local nonpartisan races and Wisconsin Supreme Court
Aug. 11 – Primary elections, where needed, for partisan races
Nov. 3. – General election for partisan offices (governor, Congress, legislature, etc.)
This will be the first real battle for control of the Wisconsin Legislature in more than a decade. After Republicans racked up big wins in 2010, they redrew political maps to ensure they would dominate the Assembly and Senate. Democrats have won 15 of the 18 statewide elections since 2018, but could not overcome gerrymandered legislative maps. New, fairer maps took effect in 2024.
There will be elections in the state’s eight congressional districts, but only two of the races are considered competitive since those gerrymandered maps did not change in 2024. A new legal challenge has only a longshot chance of being resolved by next November.
Later this week we will know which of the spring nonpartisan races will require a primary in February. If you plan to vote next month, you should check your registration status at the state Election Commission website: MyVote.WI.gov
👉🏼 Bonus Tip: Now that it’s 2026, you can request to have absentee ballots sent to you — not just for the next election but for every election in the 2026 calendar year, provided you are properly registered. Use the MyVote website to learn how to set yourself up to ensure you take part in every important election this year.
By the way: Feel free to share this newsletter with a friend to make sure they have the info they need to make their voice heard this election season.
READ our full 2026 Election Year preview on our website.