With the 2026 primaries for governor less than a year away, the field is growing, shifting and gaining attention.

And why not?

This is the first open governor's race since 2010, when Dem Gov. Jim Doyle opted out of a reelection bid. This time, it’s Dem Gov. Tony Evers who has decided not to run for a third four-year term.

That race will be one of the biggest drivers of national interest in purple Wisconsin next year along with the spring race for state Supreme Court and fall races for the Legislature and Congress. Democrats have a chance to win back the Legislature, which Republicans have dominated for some 15 years. They also hope to knock off U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien.

Here are the most recent developments:

• Northern Wisconsin Congressional Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wausau formally joined the race and later declared himself the frontrunner for the GOP nomination.
• Southeastern Wisconsin businessman Bill Berrien dropped out of the race after revelations he followed sexually explicit social media accounts, leaving Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann as Tiffany's chief Republican opponent.

Missy Hughes left the Evers administration, where she led the WEDC, and then joined the growing Dem field. Hughes, who lives outside Viroqua, joins an increasingly crowded Dem governor field, with more candidates weighing bids.

Those who have declared so far include: Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley, Madison state Rep. Francesca Hong, former Madison state Rep. Brett Hulsey, Lt. Gov. Sarah Rodriguez and state Sen. Kelda Roys of Madison. Attorney General Josh Kaul and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes are among those considering a run.

Now the state Dem Party is getting involved.

Under new Chair Devin Remiker, the party is launching an initiative to help its eventual nominee.

Dubbed the “Wisconsin Governor Readiness Project,” it will be a vehicle to raise money, invest in messaging and build out field operations before voters select the party’s nominee in the Aug. 11, 2026 primary, 12 weeks ahead of the general election.

“The campaign infrastructure that we will build over the next year will be vital to electing our next Democratic governor,” Evers said. “The WisDems was a critical partner in my re-election campaign, and just like four years ago, I’m going to be fighting like hell alongside Chair (Devin) Remiker to ensure that Wisconsin has a governor who will always stand up for the people of our state.”

The party announced senior adviser Cassi Fenili – Evers ’campaign manager in 2022 and deputy campaign manager in 2018 – will lead the project.

The party called the effort unprecedented, though the Democratic Governors Association ran a similar operation in 2018, when the Dem field grew to 10 candidates before contracting just ahead of the primary. A Stronger Wisconsin began running TV ads targeting then-GOP Gov. Scott Walker the day after the Dem primary that Evers won, giving the party’s nominee time to build up his campaign coffers after the win. The group ended up spending more than $12 million, according to ProPublica.

For more, go to www.wispolitics.com