Polling Average
25%20%15%10%5%0%
19.1%
9.4%
8.3%
7.5%
6.0%
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
$257.1K
AUG 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleAttorney
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
GenderFemale
LocationWisconsin
Show moreShow less
BackgroundAttorney
EducationGeorgetown University (B.A., 1990)
Notable personal detailsMelissa B. “Missy” Hughes is a Wisconsin attorney and economic development executive. She served as secretary and chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) from 2019 to 2025 after a long career at the farmer-owned dairy cooperative Organic Valley. She is a Democratic candidate for governor of Wisconsin in the 2026 election.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgmissyforgovernor.compbswisconsin.orgwpr.orgwispolitics.comwisconsinexaminer.comozdems.orgohioelectionhq.comapnews.comweau.comtaylorwisdems.orgreddit.comwafp.orgfox6now.comwbay.comswnews4u.comwashingtonpost.comspectrumnews1.comyahoo.comwisbusiness.comurbanmilwaukee.commalegislature.govcommonwealthclimatecoalition.orgassets.apnews.combaldwin.senate.govvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orghistory.house.govfrontpage.ballotpedia.orgnga.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgballotready.orgcongress.govgovinfo.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Missy Hughes’ campaign emphasizes pro-growth economic policies focused on creating new businesses, job training, housing construction, and reducing cost pressures for families. Her materials prioritize investments and programs to expand opportunity and affordability but do not present a clear, explicit stance on raising or cutting taxes.
Healthcare
The candidate emphasizes making health care affordable and accessible for Wisconsin families as part of an economic/affordability platform but does not present specific policy prescriptions (for example, Medicare for All, a public option, or specific ACA changes). Available public materials frame health care as part of broader affordability priorities rather than detailing concrete reforms.
Show moreShow less
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports abortion access decided by pregnant people and their doctors, opposes new Republican restrictions and would veto bills imposing such limits, and expressed support for removing Wisconsin’s 20-week abortion ban if a bill did so.
Climate & Energy
Supports expanding Wisconsin’s clean energy economy and workforce while helping incumbent businesses transition into clean-energy sectors; emphasizes protecting natural resources and addressing climate-related impacts on agriculture and water. Favors market-aligned clean energy development and workforce training rather than advocating for extreme fossil-fuel expansion or rollback of climate action.
Polls
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- News
- Endorsements
- Fundraising