2026 Wisconsin Governor Voters Guide

Legal. Says abortion needs to be “protected at all costs.” Would “enshrine reproductive rights into our Constitution.” Would “defend every woman’s right to make their own healthcare decisions.” As a state representative, sponsored a resolution to recognize abortion as essential healthcare in 2017. Supports access to the abortion pill mifepristone.

Mostly ban. Is “proud to be pro-life.” Twice sponsored a bill to ban abortions at fetal “detectable heartbeat,” seen to be six weeks. Voted to introduce criminal penalties for health care practitioners who fail to provide the required degree of care for an infant who survives an attempted abortion. Would “uphold” Wisconsin’s 20-week abortion law, which he voted for in 2015.

Yes. “The climate crisis is a real, pressing threat.” As a county executive, supported a law to have Milwaukee County operations reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Supported $369 billion in clean energy investments. Would “launch a ‘Green New Deal’” for public schools and “put more renewable energy on rooftops.”

No. “Taxpayer dollars shouldn’t be used to sacrifice farmland for green energy boondoggles.”

Introduced a bill to prohibit federal funding for solar and wind projects built on farmlands. Voted against $369 billion in clean energy investments, then voted to repeal them. Said the investments were a “Green New Scam.”

“We cannot defund the police.” “Investing in public safety…doesn’t mean more money to police officers.” It includes “community violence interruption” and working with police, community organizations. Supports body cameras for police. Supports “alternatives to incarceration.” Supports “accountability and justice” for violent crimes, with “clemency” for past “excessive” sentences.

“Crime is a policy choice.” Would give police “the tools, training, and support they need.” Opposes commutation for “violent criminals.” “I’ll end this soft-on-crime [Commutation] board.” Introduced a bill to increase penalties for certain violent crimes. In 2021 voted against banning racial profiling and no-knock warrants, requiring body cameras, and limiting qualified immunity.

Mostly yes. Would maintain “the current voucher programs without expansion.” Says shutting down voucher schools would create a strain on the public school system. Would prioritize investment in public schools and “invest in our public schools to make sure that they’re the school of choice.”

Yes. Supports Wisconsin’s school voucher system. Sponsored a federal bill to give tax credits for donations to private school scholarships, then voted for a bill with such credit program. Urged the Governor to opt Wisconsin into that, “expand access to quality education for every child.”

Likely no. “Black history is American history.” During Black History Month, said “some seek to erase or diminish Black history” and called for “telling the truth about our past.”

Yes. Calls teaching about “oppressors” or “victims” based on students’ skin color a “destructive and hateful curriculum.” Voted to give parents the right to inspect school materials.

Tighten. Would “defend Wisconsin’s water standards” and “fight for cleanup funding.” Opposes “gutting PFAS protections.” “We have a responsibility to protect our land, our air, our water.” Calls for “clear environmental guardrails” on data centers.

Mostly loosen. Voted to ease environmental permit processes. Introduced bill for Interior Dept to “issue permits…for…drill for oil and gas on public land.” Voted to undo controls on companies emitting 7 major pollutants. Would impose data center “environmental standards.”

Tighten. Supports “universal background checks [and] safe firearm takeback options.” Supports a federal law requiring stricter regulation on gun sellers. Supports red flag laws and “ban[ning] assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.” “We must do more to end…gun violence.”

Loosen. Voted against expanding background checks and encouraging states to pass red flag laws. Sponsored a bill to ban state or local restrictions on carrying firearms in public. Voted against a ban on assault weapons. Sponsored bill to allow concealed carry across state lines.

Increase. Would “use federal Medicaid matching funds” to expand BadgerCare “to any household that wants it.” Would “make BadgerCare comprehensive—medical, dental, and vision.” Supports extending Affordable Care Act premium subsidy tax credits. Would “expand telehealth” and “invest in mobile care and rural clinics.”

Mostly decrease. Supports “more choices” and “more competition.” Voted for a bill that cut Medicaid. Voted against extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies for 3 years. Would “require hospitals and insurers to provide clear, upfront prices.” Would allow “patients to pay their doctor directly through a membership subscription.”

“Deporting valued members of our community…is wrong and unjust…. Due process is under attack.” “An undocumented worker…convicted of a heinous crime…should be deported.” Opposes requiring local law enforcement to partner with ICE. “Turning local law enforcement into ICE agents makes communities less safe.”

“Deporting illegal aliens is how you make America safer.” Voted to build 900 miles of border wall & limit asylum. Introduced a bill to allow states to block refugee resettlement. Voted to increase ICE funding by $75 billion, then for $70 billion more for DHS. Voted to not extend temp. protected status for Haitian migrants through 2029.

Easier. “Labor unions are the lifeblood of the U.S.” Would “stand firmly with unions” and “protect workers’ right to organize, bargain, and strike without fear of retaliation.” Would “repeal Act 10 in full and finally restore the protections that working families have been denied.”

Harder. “Congress should…not force [workers] to be members of unions they don’t want to join.” Sponsored a bill to create a national right to work law. Supports Act 10 which he voted for in 2011. The law reduced collective bargaining rights for public sector unions in Wisconsin.

Mostly expand. Supports repealing a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Supported a resolution opposing conversion therapy in Milwaukee. On transgender athletes in women’s sports, would leave the decision up to WI’s high school athletics assoc.

Limit. Voted against the federal recognition of same sex marriages. Voted against prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and “public accommodations.” Opposes “sex-change surgeries for minors.”

Legal. Would legalize medical and recreational marijuana. “I will legalize it…invest the revenue in schools, infrastructure, and small business.”

Partly legal. Would legalize “medical marijuana… through a responsible program that gives veterans…and other patients access” to treatment.

Yes. Would “raise Wisconsin’s minimum wage immediately to $15 an hour and raise it to $20 an hour by 2030.” “The price of everything has gone up…and the wage floor has not moved a single dollar. That ends with my administration.”

Likely no. “A $20 minimum wage” would “force [employers across rural Wisconsin] to cut jobs, reduce hours, and raise prices.” In 2020, said “a $15 minimum wage…will put even more workers out of jobs in the long run.”

Calls for “a holistic view” of income taxes; would raise them on people “making more than a million dollars.” Would have signed a state tax deal to lower property taxes if it had passed. Signed a 2024 Milwaukee-county budget that lowered property tax, and a 2025 budget that increased it.

Would repeal the “400-year veto” that authorized state schools to raise funds through additional property taxes. Would deliver a 10% income tax cut for families earning under $150,000 a year. Would “end state income taxes on tips and overtime.” Opposes increases to sales tax.

Easier. Opposes requiring proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in a federal election. Would “fight tooth and nail” against such “unnecessary hurdles.” Opposes limiting access to mail-in voting. Supports requiring certain states to get preapproval for changes in voting practice.

Harder. Voted to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in a federal election. Sponsored a bill to require voter ID and receipt of mail ballots by Election Day, to “restore trust.” Voted in 2021 against requiring certain states to get preapproval for changes in voting practice.