2026 Wisconsin Secretary of State election
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November 3, 2026
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| Elections in Wisconsin |
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The 2026 Wisconsin Secretary of State election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the Secretary of State of Wisconsin. Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski is eligible to run for election to a full term but has declined to do so. This will be one of four Democratic-held secretaries of state up for election in 2026 in a state won by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election and the state with the closest presidential margin of victory at R+0.9.[1]
This will be the first Wisconsin secretary of state since 1978 in which the incumbent was not seeking re-election.
Democratic primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- JoCasta Zamarripa, member of the Milwaukee Common Council from the 8th district (2020–present)[2]
Disqualified
[edit]- Eileen Newcomer, former deputy director for the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin[3][4]
Withdrawn
[edit]- Collin McNamara, activist and nominee for Wisconsin's 24th Senate district in 2024[5]
Declined
[edit]- Sarah Godlewski, incumbent Secretary of State (2023–present)[6] (running for lieutenant governor)[7]
Endorsements
[edit]JoCasta Zamarripa
- U.S. senators
- Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin (2013–present)[8]
- U.S. representatives
- Mark Pocan, U.S. representative from Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district (2013–present)[9]
- Statewide officials
- Peter Barca, former secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (2019–2024)[10]
- State legislators
- Clinton Anderson, state assemblymember from the 45th district (2023–present)[10]
- Margaret Arney, state assemblymember from the 18th district (2025–present)[10]
- Tim Carpenter, state assemblymember from the 3rd district (2003–present)[10]
- Chris Danou, former state representative from the 92nd district (2009–2017)[10]
- Ben DeSmidt, state assemblymember from the 65th district (2025–present)[10]
- Steve Doyle, state assemblymember from the 94th district (2011–present)[10]
- Evan Goyke, former state assemblymember from the 18th district (2013–2025) and Milwaukee City Attorney (2024–present)[10]
- Jodi Habush Sinykin, state senator from the 8th district (2025–present)[10]
- Tara Johnson, state assemblymember from the 96th district (2025–present)[10]
- Andy Jorgensen, former state assemblymember from the 43rd district (2007–2017)[10]
- Nick Milroy, former state assemblymember from the 73rd district (2009–2023)[10]
- Priscilla Prado, state assemblymember from the 9th district (2025–present)[10]
- Daniel Riemer, former state assemblymember from the 7th district (2013–2025)[10]
- Christine Sinicki, state assemblymember from the 20th district (1999–present)[10]
- Mark Spreitzer, state senator from the 15th district (2023–present)[10]
- Amanda Stuck, former state assemblymember from the 57th district (2015–2021)[10]
- Lisa Subeck, state assemblymember from the 79th district (2015–present)[10]
- Local officials
- Gordon Hintz, Winnebago County Executive (2025–present)[10]
- Labor unions
- Organizations
- Fair Wisconsin[12]
- Wisconsin Working Families Party[13]
Republican primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Nominee
[edit]Eliminated in primary
[edit]Endorsements
[edit]Nate Pollnow
- State legislators
- Elijah Behnke, state assemblymember from the 6th district (2021–present)[18]
- Mark Born, state assemblymember from the 37th district (2013–present)[18]
- Alex Dallman, state assemblymember from the 39th district (2021–present)[18]
- Barbara Dittrich, state assemblymember from the 99th district (2019–present)[18]
- Bob Donovan, state assemblymember from the 61st district (2023–present)[18]
- Chanz Green, state assemblymember from the 74th district (2023–present)[18]
- Rick Gundrum, state assemblymember from the 58th district (2018–present)[18]
- John Jagler, state senator from the 13th district (2021–present)[18]
- Scott Krug, state assemblymember from the 72nd district (2011–present)[18]
- Dave Maxey, state assemblymember from the 83rd district (2023–present)[18]
- William Penterman, state assemblymember from the 38th district (2021–present)[18]
- Romaine Quinn, state senator from the 25th district (2023–present)[18]
- Patrick Testin, President pro tempore of the Wisconsin State Senate (2021–present) from the 24th district (2017–present)[18]
- Cory Tomczyk, state senator from the 29th district (2023–present)[18]
- Travis Tranel, state assemblymember from the 49th district (2011–present)[18]
- Duke Tucker, state assemblymember from the 75th district (2025–present)[18]
- Ron Tusler, state assemblymember from the 3rd district (2017–present)[18]
- Robert Wittke, state assemblymember from the 63rd district (2019–present)[18]
- Organizations
Results
[edit]
Schroeder
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jay Schroeder | 201,534 | 47.2 | |
| Republican | Nate Pollnow | 108,803 | 25.5 | |
| Republican | Cindy Werner | 61,636 | 14.4 | |
| Republican | Brayden Myer | 54,095 | 12.7 | |
| Write-in | 769 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 426,837 | 100.0 | ||
Green primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Pete Karas, candidate recruiter for the Wisconsin Green Party[20]
Endorsements
[edit]Pete Karas
- Political parties
General election
[edit]Predictions
[edit]| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[22] | Tossup | August 7, 2025 |
References
[edit]- ↑ Gilbert, Craig (November 25, 2024). "Gilbert: How small voting shifts made Wisconsin the closest state in the nation". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ↑ Karnopp, Hope (September 4, 2025). "Milwaukee alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa launches campaign for Wisconsin secretary of state". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
- ↑ Walleser, Melanie (June 2, 2026). "Which candidates will appear on the August Primary ballot?". WEAU. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Bangstad vows to sue after Elections Commission found he failed to make gubernatorial ballot". WISPOLITICS. June 10, 2026. Archived from the original on June 23, 2026. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
- ↑ Pfantz, Erik (January 16, 2026). "Stevens Point area native suspends campaign for Secretary of State". Stevens Point Journal. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Wisconsin secretary of state won't run for governor but mulls run for lieutenant governor in 2026". Associated Press. July 28, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2025 – via PBS Wisconsin.
- ↑ Thompson, Chad (August 20, 2025). "Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski announces run for lieutenant governor". WKOW. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
- ↑ "Zamarripa campaign: U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin endorses JoCasta Zamarripa for Wisconsin Secretary of State". WisPolitics. December 11, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ "U.S. Rep. Pocan: Endorses candidates for statewide office in 2026". Wispolitics.com. November 14, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Zamarripa campaign: State legislators endorse Milwaukee Alderperson and former State Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa for Wisconsin Secretary of State". WisPolitics.com. October 2, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ↑ "2026 Fall Election Endorsed Candidates". Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Fair Wisconsin PAC Issues Endorsements in State Constitutional Offices". June 25, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Wisconsin Working Families Party Endorses Primary Candidates". Working Families Party. July 27, 2026. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Schroeder campaign: Jay Schroeder announces candidacy for Wisconsin secretary of state". WisPolitics. March 18, 2026. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- ↑ Strecker, Clara (July 10, 2026). "Meet the candidates running for Wisconsin secretary of state". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
- ↑ Yount, Benjamin (January 20, 2022). "Beef farmer joins race for Wisconsin secretary of state as Republican". The Center Square. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Cindy Werner Announces Candidacy For Wisconsin Secretary Of State". Dryden Wire. February 3, 2026. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Pollnow campaign: Wisconsin state legislators endorse Nate Pollnow for Secretary of State". WisPolitics. March 16, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ "GOP activists endorse Martin for LG, Toney for AG, Leiber for treasurer, Pollnow for secretary of state". WisPolitics. May 16, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ Bahl, Andrew (December 10, 2024). "The Wisconsin Green Party wants to double down in 2026. Will it work?". The Capital Times. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
- 1 2 3 "The Independence Party: Independence Party endorses Pete Karas for Wisconsin Secretary of State". WisPolitics. July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ Jacobson, Louis (August 7, 2025). "Previewing the 2026 Secretary of State Races". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
External links
[edit]Official campaign websites