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Governors

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Announces He Will Not Seek a Third Term

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Wisconsin's Democratic governor, Tony Evers, has made the unexpected decision to not seek a third term, creating an open race for governor in the battleground state. This move comes as Democrats attempt to take control of the Legislature and target two congressional districts in the state. Evers, who has been in public service for 50 years, cited his family as the reason for his decision, stating he wants to focus on the things they enjoy and love doing together.

Key Takeaways:

  • The open race for governor in Wisconsin will attract several Democratic and Republican candidates, including Attorney General Josh Kaul, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany.
  • Democrats are optimistic that they can win control of at least one legislative chamber next year, thanks to the redrawn election maps drawn by Governor Evers, which are more favorable to Democrats.
  • The new legislative maps were ordered by the state Supreme Court in 2023 after liberal justices gained a majority, and were widely regarded as among the most gerrymandered in the country.
  • Governor Evers has been at odds with the Republican-led Legislature over several issues, including expanding Medicaid, legalizing marijuana, and blocking Republican attempts to enact conservative priorities.
  • Despite these challenges, Evers has managed to pass the state budget, which included $1.5 billion in tax cuts prioritized by the GOP and more funding for both K-12 special education and the University of Wisconsin.
  • Evers has also worked with Republicans to redraw the state's legislative boundary lines, which helped Democrats in last November's election.
  • The open race for governor will be Wisconsin's highest-profile race next year, and will likely be a closely watched contest.

Statistics:

  • Wisconsin's governor has a 2-year term.
  • Evers won his first election in 2018 by over 1 percentage point and his re-election in 2022 by just over 3 points.
  • The last open race for governor in Wisconsin was in 2010, when Democratic incumbent Jim Doyle opted not to seek a third term.
  • Evers has been in public service for 50 years, including 10 years as state superintendent of education and 6 years as governor.

Sources:

  • Madison, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's Democratic governor, Tony Evers, announced Thursday that he will not seek a third term, creating the first open race for governor in the battleground state in 16 years.
  • U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan statement: "I think he is the most quintessential Wisconsin politician I've ever seen."

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