Joel Brennan, former top Evers aide, joins crowded 2026 Wisconsin governor race

Joel Brennan, the former secretary of Wisconsin’s Department of Administration under Governor Tony Evers, announced Thursday his candidacy for the 2026 gubernatorial race, positioning himself as a pragmatic Democrat capable of working across party lines while standing firm against Republican policies.

“You don’t grow up in a family of 11 kids without learning how to fight,” Brennan, who was the 10th of those children, told The Associated Press. “But there’s a difference between just fighting and getting something done.”

Brennan, 55, currently serves as president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, an influential coalition of approximately 200 business, financial, legal, and nonprofit leaders focused on improving southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and civic landscape. His announcement adds another prominent name to an already competitive Democratic primary field.

In his announcement, Brennan emphasized his desire to build bipartisan relationships while also confronting what he described as President Donald Trump’s “chaos and dysfunction.” This dual approach reflects the political reality in Wisconsin, a crucial swing state that narrowly supported Trump in both 2016 and 2024, while backing Joe Biden by a similarly slim margin in 2020. All three presidential contests were decided by less than one percentage point, underscoring the state’s deep political divisions.

“I want to roll up our sleeves and work together,” Brennan said, suggesting his leadership style would differ from the partisan gridlock that has characterized much of Wisconsin’s state government in recent years, where Republicans control the legislature while Democrats hold the governor’s office.

Brennan enters a crowded Democratic field that includes several high-profile candidates. Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, state Senator Kelda Roys, state Representative Francesca Hong, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, and former state economic development director Missy Hughes have all declared their candidacies.

On the Republican side, U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany, known for his strong support of former President Trump, has emerged as the front-runner. Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann is also seeking the GOP nomination.

Brennan believes his unique combination of private sector experience and government service sets him apart from other candidates. Before joining the Evers administration in 2019, he spent 11 years as executive director of Milwaukee’s Discovery World, Wisconsin’s largest science museum. He left his government position in 2022 to lead the Greater Milwaukee Committee.

“It seems as if there’s an opportunity that I may bring something to this field that others don’t,” Brennan said. “None of us can say that we have been governor, and each one of us will have to prove that we have the temperament and have the ability to do things on day one.”

Political analysts note that Brennan’s candidacy adds a business-friendly Democratic voice to the primary, potentially appealing to moderate voters concerned about economic development and governance. His connections throughout Wisconsin’s business community could also prove valuable for fundraising efforts in what is expected to be an expensive campaign cycle.

Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race is likely to attract significant national attention and resources, given the state’s crucial role in presidential elections and its history of competitive statewide races. The primary election in August 2026 will determine which candidates advance to the general election in November.

Governor Evers, who defeated incumbent Republican Scott Walker in 2018 and won reelection in 2022, is prohibited from seeking a third consecutive term under Wisconsin state law, creating an open race that both parties view as winnable.