Polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday across Wisconsin for the 2026 midterm elections, with the governorship and control of the state Legislature up for grabs. Polling places will remain open until 8 p.m. and voters who are in line then will be permitted to cast ballots.
To help inform voters, The Heartland Post has created The Ultimate Conservative Voter Guide, a personalized list of conservative candidates and positions on ballot questions.
Governor’s Race Tops the Ballot
The marquee contest is the open race for governor. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is not seeking a third term.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, the Democratic nominee, is paired with Sarah Godlewski. Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who represents northern Wisconsin, is running with David Varnam.
Recent polling has shown Crowley ahead, but early voting has been strong in counties Tiffany needs to win.
Legislative Control in Play Under New Maps
All 99 state Assembly seats and 17 of 33 state Senate seats are on the ballot. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers.
Democrats are aiming to flip both houses for the first time in 15 years under maps drawn by Evers following a controversial Wisconsin Supreme Court decision overturning the Legislature’s maps. Democrats need two net Senate gains and five Assembly pickups to win control of each chamber.
A Democrat trifecta would mark a significant shift in Madison after eight years of divided government.
Congressional Races with National Implications
Wisconsin has no U.S. Senate race this year, but two House contests are drawing attention as Democrats try to gain ground nationally.
In western Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden faces a rematch with Democrat Rebecca Cooke. Van Orden narrowly won in 2024, but national left-wing groups have poured millions into the race, which they consider a key pickup if Democrats are to win control of the House.
In the 1st District in southeastern Wisconsin, Republican Rep. Bryan Steil is challenged by Democrat Mitchell Berman. Steil won re-election by 10 points in 2024, but a strong Democrat environment this year has pushed this race much closer.
Other Statewide Races and Ballot Questions
Attorney General Josh Kaul (D) is seeking a third term against Republican Eric Toney in a rematch of their 2022 contest.
Races for secretary of state and state treasurer are also on the ballot.
Voters will also decide three Republican-backed constitutional amendments.
The first would further restrict the governor’s partial veto power by barring its use to create or increase taxes or fees, which Evers did with his infamous “400-year veto” in 2023.
The second proposed amendment would prohibit the state or local governments from ordering the closure of places of worship during emergencies, including public health emergencies such as COVID-19.
And the third would prohibit governmental entities from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in areas such as public employment, education, and contracting.
What to Watch
Results will begin appearing after polls close at 8 p.m. Central. Large urban counties, particularly Milwaukee, often report absentee and early ballots later in the evening, which can delay final calls in close races.
Rural turnout and early results in bellwether counties such as Sauk and Door should signal how the statewide races will end up.
