MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) – Governor Tony Evers announced that he will not run for a third term, prompting a flood of reaction from both sides of the aisle.
Some Republicans tell Local 5 News that they feel like they have a better chance of winning back the governor’s office with Evers out of the race.
“Well, to be honest, Tony Evers is tough to beat and he’d be tough to beat again,” said Republican state representative David Steffen. “He was very good at finding the middle and had kind of a folksy way about himself that connected with people.”
Steffen said it’s now anybody’s guess who will emerge as the frontrunners in the gubernatorial race for both parties.
“It is now a jump ball. There is now an opportunity for just about anyone to take this race, and that’s exciting for us as Republicans who are looking to take that seat back,” he said.
2025 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh: Day 4 brings more heat with cooldowns by the seaplanes
While Steffen said he believes Evers bowing out of the race helps Republicans, others in his party think that the governor would have been a terrible candidate. A recent Marquette Law School poll found that 55 percent of Wisconsinites didn’t want to see Evers run again.
“Tony Evers saw the writing on the wall: Wisconsinites are fed up with far-left policies,” said Wisconsin GOP chairperson Brian Schimming. “While Wisconsin Democrats continue to lose the approval of voters, Republicans are already working on winning up and down the ballot.”
Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann and business owner and Navy SEAL Bill Berrien have launched their campaigns for governor on the GOP ticket.
“Well, we need a great candidate, and certainly we have the policies,” Steffen said when asked what it is going to take for Republicans to win the gubernatorial race this time around. “We’re going to be looking to cut taxes, limit government, and make everything work a little smarter for the people.”
Lawrence University history professor Jerald Podair said he thinks if Evers ran again he would have won by a thin margin. He said attorney general Josh Kaul is the likely frontrunner with Evers out of the race. He said Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson are other people to keep an eye on in what could be a very crowded primary field for the Democrats.
On Thursday afternoon, after Evers’ announcement, many Democrats here in Northeast Wisconsin wanted to thank Evers for his efforts throughout his time as the state’s governor.
National Weather Service investigates storm damage, tornado in Gillett
“I think that Governor Evers was a respectable and kind leader who was really steadfast in his priorities but also knew he needed to work in a bipartisan way,” said Democratic Party of Outagamie County chairperson Emily Tseffos. “Champion our public schools, make life more affordable for everyday Wisconsinites while dealing with a Republican controlled legislature.”
“Green Bay loves Governor Evers,” said state representative Amaad Rivera-Wagner. “One thing he’s been instrumental in is moving the coal piles, a once-in-a-generation project; he also helped us secure funding for the NFL draft and the public safety costs afterwards.”
Local Democrats said they’re sad to see Governor Evers step away from politics, but that they’re confident that strong candidates will emerge.
“We on the Democratic side are trying to do what’s right for our neighbors, our community, state, and nation, and we just need to remind the electorate of that,” Emily Tseffos said.
“I was surprised Governor Evers (didn’t run for a third term), he is one of the most popular political figures in the state, popular among independents, even some Republicans,” Rivera-Wagner added. “I think that is a testament to the work he’s done.”
As far as his legacy, Professor Podair said that he thinks that people will remember Evers much more for his politics than his policy.
“He certainly is leaving the Democratic party better than when he found it in 2019,” Podair said. “Tony Evers may be remembered most among Democrats as the man who slew the Scott Walker dragon. I think his legacy will be more political than policy, although we will have school funding for the next 400 years thanks to hi,m and that is policy.”
The Wisconsin gubernatorial primary is in August 2026.
