The election also features races for governor, attorney general, secretary of state and state treasurer. Democrats are seeking to win majorities in both legislative chambers for the first time since 2010. They would need to gain two seats in the 33-member Senate and six in the 99-member Assembly. Seventeen Senate seats and every Assembly seat are on the ballot.

### Governor and statewide races

Democrat David Crowley, Milwaukee County’s executive, is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany for governor. Crowley’s running mate is Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski; former Lancaster Mayor David Varnam is running for lieutenant governor with Tiffany.

The candidates have offered contrasting approaches to housing, childcare and health care. Crowley has proposed limiting annual rent increases, expanding housing supply and creating a statewide childcare program with subsidized spots for children younger than 5. Tiffany has called for reducing housing regulations and easing rules for childcare providers.

On health care, Crowley supports a BadgerCare public option residents could buy into, with dental, vision and mental-health coverage. Tiffany favors allowing patients to pay primary-care providers directly and expanding health-plan options through the Wisconsin Farm Bureau. Both candidates say affordability and mental-health access are concerns.

The candidates also differ on school funding. Crowley favors increasing state aid overall and has proposed raising special-education reimbursement to 90%. Tiffany says funding should go more directly to classrooms and has highlighted schools with declining enrollment. Neither supports ending Wisconsin’s private-school voucher programs.

Both candidates say local governments should have a role in decisions about data centers and support additional state regulation and environmental protections. Crowley has called for data-center developers to use 100% renewable energy and union labor; Tiffany has emphasized protecting farmland. Crowley supports legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, while Tiffany supports medical use.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul is seeking a third term against Republican Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney, who also challenged Kaul in 2022 and lost by about 35,000 votes. Kaul has made legal challenges to President Donald Trump’s administration a central part of his case for reelection. Toney has criticized those lawsuits and emphasized public safety and delays in processing DNA evidence at state crime labs.

The secretary of state’s race centers partly on who should administer elections. Republican Jay Schroeder wants to eliminate the Wisconsin Elections Commission and move election administration to the secretary of state’s office. Democrat JoCasta Zamarripa, a Milwaukee City Council member, opposes that change and says the office can be used to protect voting rights. Wisconsin’s secretary of state does not currently oversee elections.

In the state treasurer’s race, Republican incumbent John Leiber says the office’s current role is sufficient. Democrat Yee Leng Xiong, a Marathon County commissioner and school board member, wants to use the position to provide more financial transparency and oversight. The secretary of state, treasurer and attorney general sit on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, which distributes money from state funds to schools, libraries and local governments.

### Dane County legislative contests

The closely watched 17th Senate District race pits Republican Sen. Howard Marklein, who has represented the district since 2015, against Democratic state Rep. Jenna Jacobson of Oregon. The district was redrawn in 2023 to be more ideologically balanced, and Democrats are targeting it as a possible pickup. Both candidates say school funding is important, but Jacobson favors increasing state aid overall while Marklein has emphasized support for schools with declining enrollment.

In the 27th Senate District, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein of Middleton is running without a listed opponent. UW-Madison political scientist Nathan Kalmoe has launched a write-in campaign against her.

The Assembly matchups in Dane County are:

- District 42: Democratic Rep. Maureen McCarville of DeForest and Republican Columbia County Board member Keith Miller of Fountain Prairie. - District 46: Democratic Rep. Joan Fitzgerald of Fort Atkinson and Republican Army veteran John Donohue, also of Fort Atkinson. - District 47: Democratic Rep. Randy Udell of Fitchburg and Republican nurse Sandy Bakk of McFarland. - District 48: Democratic Rep. Andrew Hysell of Sun Prairie and Republican Mark Kjorlie, a retired paper-industry engineer from Marshall. - District 50: Democratic New Glarus School Board member Bill Oemichen and Republican Jon Aleckson of Springdale, a retired business leader. - District 51: Republican Rep. Todd Novak and Democratic conservation warden Ben Gruber of Arena. - District 76: Democratic Madison City Council member Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford and Republican Nina Chat of Madison. - District 77: Democratic Rep. Renuka Mayadev and Republican businesswoman Jane McCormick, both of Madison. - District 78: Democratic Rep. Shelia Stubbs and Republican UW-Madison student Henry Johnson, both of Madison. - District 79: Democratic Rep. Lisa Subeck and Republican writer John Fons, both of Madison. - District 80: Democratic Rep. Mike Bare of Verona and Republican behavioral-health provider Simran Arora, also of Verona. - District 81: Democratic Rep. Alex Joers of Waunakee and Republican retired carpenter and construction superintendent Mark Maier of Sauk City.

### Congressional races and ballot questions

Longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan is running unopposed in the 2nd Congressional District, which includes Dane County. Two races elsewhere in the state are drawing attention: Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden is facing Democrat Rebecca Cooke again in the 3rd District, west of Madison, and Republican Rep. Bryan Steil is challenged by Democratic nurse Mitchell Berman in the 1st District south of Madison.

Voters will also be asked to approve or reject three Republican-backed constitutional amendments. One would restrict the governor’s partial veto authority, following Gov. Tony Evers’ use of the power to extend increased school funding for 400 years in the 2023-25 state budget. Another would prohibit the state from closing churches during public-health emergencies. The third would bar state and local government agencies from implementing diversity, equity and inclusion laws.

Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett, the county’s first Black sheriff, is running unopposed for a second term. Circuit Court Clerk Jeff Okazaki is also unopposed in his bid for a second term.

### How to vote

Voters who need to register can do so at their municipal clerk’s office through Oct. 30 or at their polling place on Election Day. Registration requires proof of address, such as a recent utility bill, a Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID, a paycheck, or an eligible university housing list with student ID.

Wisconsin voters must show an accepted photo ID to vote. A voter who arrives without one may cast a provisional ballot, which will count if a copy of the required ID is provided to the local clerk by 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Thursday, Oct. 29. Requests can be made at myvote.wi.gov or in writing to the voter’s municipal clerk. Election officials recommend returning mailed ballots at least a week before Election Day so they arrive on time. Voters may also return ballots at an authorized drop box, an in-person absentee voting site or their polling place on Election Day, where permitted.

Madison offers early in-person absentee voting through Oct. 31 at 21 locations; hours vary by site. The city has 14 ballot drop boxes, including at fire stations, Elver Park and Goodman South Madison Library. Cottage Grove, Fitchburg, McFarland, Middleton, Stoughton, Sun Prairie and Verona also have drop boxes, though some close before or on Election Day. Voters can check their registration, see their ballot and find polling and absentee-voting information at myvote.wi.gov.