Republican Tiffany Highlights Evers' Vetoes to Contrast with Democrats

Tiffany aims to rally conservative voters by criticizing Evers' rejection of tax relief measures and a school choice program.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:05am

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A highly abstract, fragmented painting in shades of blue, green, and orange, depicting a stylized state capitol building in an avant-garde, cubist-inspired style that suggests the political tensions and divisiveness of the governor's race.The Wisconsin gubernatorial race heats up as the Republican candidate seeks to draw a stark contrast with the Democratic incumbent's policy decisions.Madison Today

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany is highlighting policies recently vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in an effort to "paint a clear contrast" with Democrats ahead of the midterm election. Tiffany criticized Evers' vetoes of bills that would have exempted Wisconsinites from paying state income taxes on tips and some overtime pay, as well as a veto of a bill that would have required Wisconsin to participate in a new federal program offering tax incentives for donations to scholarship-granting organizations.

Why it matters

Tiffany's strategy of emphasizing Evers' vetoes is an attempt to rally conservative voters in Wisconsin by portraying the Democratic governor as out-of-touch with the concerns of working-class residents. The recent blowout victory for Democrats in the state's Supreme Court election has prompted Tiffany to renew his party's focus on getting conservative voters to the polls.

The details

Tiffany held a news conference outside the state Capitol on April 8, the day after the Supreme Court election, to highlight Evers' recent vetoes. He criticized the governor's rejection of a bill that would have required Wisconsin to participate in a new federal program offering tax incentives for donations to scholarship-granting organizations. Tiffany argued this program "would have helped kids everywhere" by providing scholarships to families earning up to 300% of the area median income. Tiffany also criticized Evers' vetoes of bills that would have exempted Wisconsinites from paying state income taxes on tips and some overtime pay.

  • On April 8, 2026, Tiffany held a news conference outside the state Capitol.
  • Evers recently vetoed the bills highlighted by Tiffany.

The players

Tom Tiffany

The Republican candidate for governor of Wisconsin who is highlighting Evers' vetoes to contrast with Democrats.

Tony Evers

The Democratic governor of Wisconsin who recently vetoed the bills criticized by Tiffany.

Chris Taylor

The liberal Justice-elect who won the recent state Supreme Court election by a 20-point margin.

Jared Polis

The Democratic governor of Colorado who opted his state into the federal program offering tax incentives for donations to scholarship-granting organizations.

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What they’re saying

“We have to get to those people that are conservative thinking and deliver a message to them that Wisconsin has deep troubles. And do you want to end up like the woke and broke in Minnesota and Illinois, or do we want to be one of the great states here in America?”

— Tom Tiffany, Republican candidate for governor

“I will get this $1,700 scholarship in place so families that are truly in need, that want opportunity, they're going to be able to get it for their children to get a good education.”

— Tom Tiffany, Republican candidate for governor

“I just was at a restaurant this morning over in the Milwaukee area where a waitress was nearly in tears when I said to her, you can count on me to sign that bill in 2027 after I become governor, that there will be no taxes on tips and overtime. We see where Democrats stand. They do not stand with the working-class people of the state of Wisconsin. We will paint that clear contrast every day from here to November.”

— Tom Tiffany, Republican candidate for governor

What’s next

If elected, Tiffany said he would enroll Wisconsin in the federal program offering tax incentives for donations to scholarship-granting organizations. The governor must opt in by January 1, 2027 for the state to participate.

The takeaway

Tiffany's strategy of highlighting Evers' vetoes is an attempt to rally conservative voters in Wisconsin by portraying the Democratic governor as out-of-touch with the concerns of working-class residents. This contrasts with Evers' recent veto of bills that would have provided tax relief for tips and overtime pay, as well as his rejection of a program that could have expanded school choice options.