Most Wisconsin Voters Undecided in Governor Race

Marquette poll finds Francesca Hong leads Democrats, Tom Tiffany leads Republicans, but majority of voters in both parties are still undecided.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A new Marquette University Law School poll found that most voters in Wisconsin are undecided about the candidates in the upcoming governor's race. While Francesca Hong leads among Democrats and Tom Tiffany leads among Republicans, 65% of Democratic primary voters and 63% of Republican primary voters said they are undecided. The partisan primaries for Wisconsin governor are not until August, indicating that many voters have not yet engaged with the race.

Why it matters

The high levels of voter indecision this far out from the primaries suggest that the candidates still have work to do to introduce themselves and their platforms to Wisconsin voters. The governor's race will be a key contest in the 2026 election cycle, with implications for the state's political landscape and policy direction.

The details

The Marquette poll surveyed 818 Wisconsin registered voters between February 11-19, 2026. Among Democratic primary voters, 65% said they are undecided, while Francesca Hong led with 11% and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes followed with 10%. On the Republican side, 63% of primary voters are undecided, with U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany leading at 35% and Andy Manske at 2%.

  • The Marquette poll was conducted from February 11-19, 2026.
  • The partisan primaries for Wisconsin governor are not until August 2026.

The players

Francesca Hong

A state representative from Madison who is leading the Democratic primary field.

Tom Tiffany

A U.S. Representative who is leading the Republican primary field.

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What they’re saying

“A lot of people didn't know most of the candidates in 2018, for example, but we had more people with opinions of the candidate than we had even in the early primary polls. We had a smaller undecided amount then, so this year really is looking like, whether it's the governor's race or the court race, people are not paying as much attention as they have in previous primary years for governor or in previous Supreme Court races.”

— Charles Franklin, Pollster (fox6now.com)

What’s next

The partisan primaries for Wisconsin governor are not until August 2026, giving candidates more time to introduce themselves to voters and sway undecided voters.

The takeaway

The high levels of voter indecision this far out from the Wisconsin governor's race primaries suggest that the candidates still have significant work to do to engage and persuade voters. The outcome of this race could have major implications for the state's political landscape, making it crucial for candidates to connect with undecided voters in the coming months.