2018 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

Governor Candidates • Robert Meyer, businessman and candidate for mayor of Sun Prairie in 2007 • Scott Walker, incumbent governor Endorsements Results Lieutenant governor Candidates • Rebecca Kleefisch, incumbent lieutenant governor Results ==Democratic primary==

Governor Nominee • Tony Evers, Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin (2009–2019) Eliminated in primary • Matt Flynn, former chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, retired partner at Quarles & Brady and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1986 • Mike McCabe, former executive director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and candidate for the State Assembly in 1998 • Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2012 • Josh Pade, lawyer • Kelda Helen Roys, former state representative and candidate for WI-02 in 2012 • Paul Soglin, mayor of Madison and nominee for WI-02 in 1996 • Kathleen Vinehout, state senator and candidate for governor in 2012 Withdrew • Mike Crute, liberal talk radio broadcaster (endorsed McCabe) • Michele Doolan, businesswoman (endorsed Flynn) • Andy Gronik, businessman (remained on ballot; endorsed Roys) • Bob Harlow, candidate for CA-18 in 2016 (endorsed Flynn) • Kurt Kober, businessman (remained on ballot; endorsed Evers) Declined • Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive • Mark Bakken, businessman • Peter Barca, state representative and former U.S. representative • Tom Barrett, mayor of Milwaukee, former U.S. representative, nominee for governor in 2010 and 2012, and candidate in 2002 • John T. Chisholm, Milwaukee County District Attorney (endorsed Flynn) • Timothy Cullen, former state senator • Katherine Gehl, former president and CEO of Gehl Foods • Gordon Hintz, minority leader of the State Assembly • Brett Hulsey, former state representative and candidate for governor in 2014 • Ron Kind, U.S. representative • James Kreuser, Kenosha County executive • Joe Parisi, Dane County executive • Mark Pocan, U.S. representative • Jennifer Shilling, Democratic leader of the State Senate Endorsements Polling An asterisk (*) denotes that a candidate withdrew before the primary but remains on the ballot. Results Lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes, a former state representative from Milwaukee, defeated opponent Kurt Kober by a 2 to 1 margin for the nomination, becoming the first African American to be nominated by a major party for a Wisconsin gubernatorial ticket. Candidate Nominee • Mandela Barnes, former state representative, and candidate for state senate in 2016 Eliminated in primary • Kurt J. Kober, businessman Results ==Libertarian primary==

Governor Nominee • Phil Anderson, chairman of the Wisconsin Libertarian Party and Libertarian nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2016 Endorsements Results Lieutenant governor Nominee • Patrick Baird, U.S. Navy veteran Results ==Green primary==

Governor Nominee • Michael White Withdrew • Nick De Leon, pastor (endorsed Democrat Matt Flynn) Results Lieutenant governor Nominee • Tiffany Anderson Results ==Independent candidates==

Governor • Maggie Turnbull, astrobiologist Lieutenant governor • Wil Losch, Turnbull's running mate ==General election==

Despite the fact that Scott Walker had won three prior races for governor in 2010, 2012, and 2014 by fairly comfortable margins, his bid for a third term was complicated by rising unpopularity due to his policies concerning public education and infrastructure. Walker also faced backlash for a deal his administration made with Taiwanese company Foxconn in 2017 to create jobs in the state in exchange for around $4.5 billion in taxpayer subsidies. In 2018, the deal resulted in around $90 million of funding for roads being diverted to a stretch of I-94 that was set to be near a future Foxconn plant from the rest of state. The poor condition of many roads around the state as well as the lack of work being done to redo them prompted a campaign where potholes were being labeled as “Scott”-holes. Walker's approval ratings were hobbled further by the unpopularity of Republican U.S. President Donald Trump in Wisconsin. Walker himself sounded the alarm on this several times in early 2018 after Democrats won two special elections to the Wisconsin State Senate in typically Republican districts and an election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. In April 2018, Walker warned that Wisconsin was "at risk of a blue wave" in November. The Walker campaign generally focused on promoting the popular parts of his record, such as a freeze on tuition at public universities and record low unemployment. The result was expected to be close, with a record $93 million spent on the race by the two major campaigns and special interest groups from in and out of the state. In the end, Walker was ultimately defeated by Democrat Tony Evers, who garnered a slightly more than 1% margin of victory, as Democrats swept every statewide race up for election. Predictions Polling with Kelda Roys with Matt Flynn with Mike McCabe with Mahlon Mitchell with Josh Pade with Paul Soglin with Kathleen Vinehout with Andy Gronik with Dana Wachs Debate Results Evers won the election by a 1.09% margin. Results by county Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic • Grant (largest city: Platteville) • Kenosha (largest city: Kenosha) • Richland (largest city: Richland Center) {{align|right| By congressional district Despite losing the state, Walker won five of eight congressional districts. == Aftermath ==

Despite the close result, Scott Walker was unable to request a recount due to a law he had signed himself two years prior, which requires the margin of difference to be within 1%. Lame duck legislative session Early in December 2018, a special legislative session was called by Walker to pass a series of bills to limit the powers of Governor-elect Evers, as well as incoming Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, who had defeated incumbent Brad Schimel in the concurrent Attorney General election. Other bills being considered included restrictions on early voting and the passage of Medicaid work requirements, which Walker had previously held off on due to the election. A similar law restricting early voting that was passed several years prior had been ruled as unconstitutional. The bills were widely denounced by Democrats and others as a "power grab." Representative Gwen Moore described the move as a "coup" that "hijacked the voters' will." Walker and other Republicans meanwhile argued that the bills were necessary ”checks on power” and that they did not actually strip any real powers from the executive. Lawsuits were filed by Evers and various labor unions almost immediately after Walker signed the bills into law. == See also ==