Rep. Tom Tiffany becomes the ninth Republican U.S. House member to announce a gubernatorial bid for 2026

By

Briana Ryan

Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wisc.) announced on Sept. 23, 2025, that he will run for governor of Wisconsin in 2026 rather than another term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Gov. Tony Evers (D) is not running for re-election.

As of Sept. 23, 2025, independent race forecasters The Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections have rated the 2026 general election for the seat Toss-up.

In a video announcing his campaign, Tiffany said, “Madison politics may smell like the barn, but I know how to clean up the bull. I will roll up my sleeves and deliver results for every Wisconsinite.”

In 2020, Tiffany ran to represent Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District in a special election after then-Rep. Sean Duffy (R) resigned. That election was one of 10 special elections that happened at some point during the 116th Congress, which took place from 2019 to 2021. Tiffany defeated Tricia Zunker (D) 57% to 43%.

In his three subsequent re-election bids, Tiffany won by 22 percentage points in 2020, 24 percentage points in 2022, and 28 percentage points in 2024.

As of Sept. 23, 2025, The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have rated the 2026 general election for the seat Solid Republican. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Safe Republican.

As of Sept. 23, 2025, Tiffany is one of 36 members of the U.S. Congress—eight U.S. Senate members and 28 U.S. House members—who have announced they will not seek re-election to their current seats in 2026.

Of the 28 representatives not seeking re-election:

  • Eight—five Democrats and three Republicans—are retiring from public office.
  • Ten—five Democrats and five Republicans—are running for the U.S. Senate.
  • Nine—all Republicans—are running for governor.
  • One Republican is running for state attorney general.

Compared to the last four election cycles, there were 15 retirement announcements at this point in 2024, 19 in 2022, 21 in 2020, and 21 in 2018.

Between January 2011 and September 2025, Ballotpedia followed 327 announcements from U.S. House members who announced they would not seek re-election. January had the highest number of members announcing they would not run for re-election at 57. The fewest announcements took place in June at 15.