Wisconsin voters comparing the 2026 Democratic primary for governor to past contests should note: the field on the ballot this summer is smaller than the one that appeared in 2018, according to state election records.
What appears on the ballot
For the Aug. 11, 2026, partisan primary, the official ballot includes seven Democratic candidates and two Republican candidates. Election rules and filing deadlines mean some names remain on the ballot even after candidates stop actively campaigning; as of July 14, two Democrats who had suspended their campaigns — Missy Hughes and David Crowley — still appear on the ballot.
By contrast, the 2018 Democratic primary ballot listed 10 candidates plus an 11th write-in, per results archived by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The 2018 Republican primary that year included two listed candidates and two additional write-ins.
| 2018 | 2026 (on ballot) | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic listed candidates | 10 | 7 |
| Democratic write-ins | 1 | — |
| Republican listed candidates | 2 | 2 |
| Republican write-ins | 2 | — |
Why names stay on the ballot
State ballot-access deadlines mean a candidate who withdraws after the deadline will still appear on the printed ballot. The Wisconsin Elections Commission maintains the official primary results and ballot access records used to verify who was listed in prior contests.
- Ballot counts: 2018 Democratic ballot featured more listed names than 2026.
- Withdrawals: Several 2026 candidates have stopped campaigning but remain on the ballot because of deadlines.
- Official sources: Wisconsin Elections Commission and MyVote Wisconsin maintain filings and archived results.
In 2018, two well-known Democrats — Andy Gronik and Dana Wachs — had left the race by late June but still appeared on the ballot. That mirrors the 2026 situation in which candidates who announced exits after filing deadlines remain visible to voters on Aug. 11 ballots.
Election officials and local news organizations have compiled these records to answer circulating questions about whether 2026 has produced a particularly crowded primary. The documentation from the Wisconsin Elections Commission shows that, by the simple measure of names printed on the ballot, 2018 was the larger Democratic field.
Voters who want to confirm who will appear on their own ballot can visit MyVote Wisconsin or consult the Wisconsin Elections Commission's election documents and archived results.
Sources: Wisconsin Elections Commission; MyVote Wisconsin; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on campaign withdrawals and ballot access.
