'Three-term Tony': Gov. Tony Evers hints at 2026 re-election run in speech at Wisconsin Democratic Party Convention

GREEN BAY - As Democrats gathered Saturday for a convention largely focused on 2024 races, Gov. Tony Evers signaled he might be considering running for a third term in 2026.

The governor joked that people started calling him “Two-Term Tony” after he secured a second term in November, defeating Republican businessman Tim Michels by a decisive 3.7-point margin.

“I don’t care what you call me. You can call me governor, you can call me Tony, you can call me ‘Two-Term Tony,’ you can call me ‘Three-Term Tony,’” Evers told the party faithful during his speech at their annual convention.

Asked about “Three-Term Tony,” a campaign spokesman said Evers “hasn’t made any announcements about 2026 yet.”

The governor’s speech highlighted policy wins along with goals still unachieved. He noted that just days ago, he reached a tentative agreement with Republican legislative leaders on a sweeping proposal that would increase funding for local governments, send more money to schools and prevent Milwaukee from falling off a fiscal cliff.

Evers also touted the state’s record-low unemployment rate, his “Main Street Bounceback” program supporting small-business creation and expansion, investments in transportation and the state’s projected $7 billion surplus.

He also said there’s more Wisconsin can do to clean up drinking water, support farmers and veterans, implement gun safety laws and legalize marijuana.

“We won last November because Wisconsinites chose … kindness and compassion over division and apathy,” Evers said.

As governor, Evers said, he will “always try to do the right thing” and work together to solve problems in the state.

“And let’s be clear, we are already delivering on that promise,” he said.

In response to Evers' remarks, Republican Party of Wisconsin chair Brian Schimming said, "If it weren't for state legislative Republicans prioritizing responsible spending, Wisconsinites would be stuck with the Evers agenda: high taxes and high spending."

"He can try to disguise his status as a lame-duck governor, but the only nickname that applies to Evers is 'Taxing Tony,' and Wisconsin taxpayers are well aware of it," Schimming said in a statement Sunday.

Anthony Chergosky, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, noted that Wisconsin is one of few states that lack term limits for governors. Republican former Gov. Tommy Thompson is the state's longest-serving governor, serving four terms starting in the late 1980s.

"One factor that could play into his decision is his expectation regarding party control of the state Legislature," Chergosky said, noting that when ideological control of the state Supreme Court shifts to a liberal majority in August, there is a "very real possibility" the state's electoral maps could be redrawn — in which case Republicans would "almost certainly" be unable to secure a veto-proof majority.

Additionally, Evers' comments could be strategic, Chergosky said, allowing him to avoid the "lame duck" image — and potentially sending an "important signal to campaign contributors and activists about his future intentions."

"If people think Gov. Evers does not intend to run again, they may focus more on the upcoming election and the prospects for policymaking under Evers' successor, rather than focusing on what might be achieved in the current political climate," he said.

The conclusion of Evers’ speech was dedicated to energizing party activists to work over the next year to get President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin reelected in 2024.

More: Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher says he will not run for Senate in 2024, leaving an open GOP field

Evers praised Baldwin for her work on issues including health care access, bringing federal dollars to Wisconsin, working with farmers and veterans and restoring access to abortion.

“Let me be clear: There’s no one in the U.S. Senate who works harder to deliver results for your home state like Wisconsin’s favorite U.S. senator, Tammy Baldwin,” he said. “We need her fighting for us in Washington.”

Wisconsin Republicans in response tied Democrats to what they described as runaway spending during the administration of President Joe Biden and inflation in the economy.

“The Wisconsin Democrats convention represents their latest attempt to spin their way out of the failed records of Joe Biden, Tammy Baldwin, and their party’s state leadership. Wisconsinites do not care about their liberal wishlist, but do care about an economy on the brink while Democrats continue to pursue spending hikes and giveaways,” Schimming said.

Molly Beck of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this story.

Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com. Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tony Evers hints at run for 3rd term at Democratic Party convention