Wisconsin Voters Head to Polls for Governor, House
Candidates made final campaign pushes as Wisconsin prepares for Tuesday's gubernatorial and congressional races.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Do you plan to vote in Wisconsin's November 3 governor and congressional races?
Polls open Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the Wisconsin governor and congressional races, with Democrat David Crowley and Republican Tom Tiffany entering their final full day of campaigning. House Speaker Mike Johnson predicted GOP wins for Reps. Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden despite public polling showing otherwise.
Why it matters
Trump's job approval in Wisconsin stands at 37% in the latest Marquette Law School poll, and the outcome of these races will signal how midterm dynamics play out in a closely watched state. Three public polls in August showed the Steil-Berman race in the first congressional district shifting back and forth.
Trump's job approval in Wisconsin is 37% in the latest Marquette Law School poll, and Tiffany is campaigning in 55 communities across the state. Polling in the Steil-Berman race has moved between candidates across three August surveys, leaving the outcome of the first congressional district unresolved.
The players
Mike Johnson
Mike Johnson is the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and a senior Republican leader who has been campaigning for GOP candidates in the midterms.
Derrick Van Orden
Derrick Van Orden is a Republican U.S. Representative from Wisconsin seeking reelection in the state's 3rd congressional district.
Bryan Steil
Bryan Steil is a Republican U.S. Representative from Wisconsin seeking reelection in the state's 1st congressional district.
Mark Pocan
Mark Pocan is a Democratic U.S. Representative from Wisconsin who is helping lead Democratic congressional efforts through the DCCC.
The details
Johnson campaigned with Van Orden in Platteville on Thursday and referenced President Trump in his stump speech, predicting both Steil and Van Orden will win and that polls will be off by many points. Pocan, who is helping with DCCC efforts, predicts Democrats will pick up three seats in Iowa, one in Minnesota, and two or three in Michigan, and that they will deliver the House majority for Hakeem Jeffries if they win two Wisconsin seats.
Timeline
August 2026: Three public polls showed the Steil-Berman race shifting.
Thursday before November 1, 2026: Johnson campaigned with Van Orden in Platteville.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Election Day; polls open for voting.
Political Context
Wisconsin has long been a closely contested battleground, and the current races test whether Trump's 37% approval in the Marquette poll translates into Democratic or Republican gains in a midterm electorate. The outcome will be read against the wider House majority fight that Democrats say hinges on a small number of seats across the Midwest.
Voters across Wisconsin will decide who holds the governor's office and key House seats, shaping state policy and the balance of the U.S. House. Ballots cast Tuesday will determine representation for the next term.
The takeaway
Tuesday's results in Wisconsin will offer an early read on how Trump's current approval and the midterm environment are translating into votes, so readers should watch the first congressional district closely. Results will be available after polls close.
What happens next
Polls open Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and results for the Wisconsin governor and congressional races are expected after voting closes that evening.
Further reading
Track results and background in the Wisconsin Elections section for the state's governor and House races.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WISN.
Live Poll
Do you plan to vote in Wisconsin's November 3 governor and congressional races?
