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.

Gov. Tony Evers' decision not to run will make this the first wide-open race for governor in Wisconsin since 2010.

Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI) announced Thursday that he will not seek reelection and will retire from public office. His announcement ended months of speculation about whether he would seek a third term during the 2026 midterm elections. The move from Evers, 73, leaves the Democratic field wide open as to who could run for the party nomination.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced Thursday he won’t seek another term in office, teeing up a competitive election in one of the country’s closest battlegrounds. Evers said in

Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Devin Remiker said he wants current Gov. Tony Evers to run for reelection in 2026.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Democrat Gov. Tony Evers will not be running for re-election in 2026. That leaves Whitefish Bay Resident Bill Berrien and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann, both Republicans, as the two candidates who have announced they are running for the seat.

Wisconsin’s race for governor is hitting the airwaves more than a year before voting begins. Republican candidate Bill Berrien announced the purchase of about $400,000 in cable TV, radio and online ads Monday.