Joel Brennan

Joel Brennan emphasizes personal connections and experience in his Democratic primary campaign for governor, highlighted by a conversation with voter Rosemary Verheyen about housing concerns. Brennan, a former Department of Administration secretary and current leader of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, faces challenges with low name recognition as the only non-elected official in the race.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley ended his campaign for Wisconsin governor, narrowing the Democratic primary field to five candidates. The remaining candidates are Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, Mandela Barnes, Rep. Francesca Hong, Sen. Kelda Roys, and Joel Brennan.

Francesca Hong, a state Rep. and self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist, is running for Wisconsin governor in a crowded primary against several candidates. She emphasizes her working-class background and pledge to build a government that works for people to connect with voters in a closely divided state.

Seven gubernatorial candidates, including Democrats and a Republican, discussed criminal justice, healthcare, and public safety at a WISDOM forum. They emphasized reducing incarceration through treatment, support programs, and policy reforms like ending crimeless revocation. Republican Tom Tiffany did not attend.

State Sen. Kelda Roys is running for governor again, emphasizing her experience in state government and policy proposals in a crowded six-way Democratic primary. She raised over $355,000 and launched a $500,000 ad campaign to highlight her 25 years of work in Wisconsin, but polls show she trails other candidates with only 1% support among Democratic primary voters.