Tommy Thompson
Tommy Thompson
Wisconsin Republican Governor nominee?
$18.6K
AUG 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer Governor
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyModerate Republican
Age84 years old (Nov 19, 1941)
GenderMale
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LocationWisconsin
BackgroundPolitician
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison (BA, 1963)
Notable personal detailsTommy George Thompson is an American Republican politician who served as the 42nd governor of Wisconsin from 1987 to 2001 and as U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services from 2001 to 2005. He previously served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and later served as interim president of the University of Wisconsin System (2020–2022). He earned a BA (1963) and JD (1966) from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and served in the Wisconsin Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve, reaching the rank of captain.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports major tax cuts and broad tax-code simplification, including making Bush-era tax cuts permanent, implementing a 15% flat tax option leading to a lower top rate, cutting corporate tax rates and exempting certain capital gains and Social Security income, and limiting federal revenue as a share of GDP. Has proposed repatriation and other measures to reduce corporate taxes and encourage investment. Advocacy is oriented toward large tax reductions and smaller government revenue.
Healthcare
Has a history of creating and expanding public programs to increase coverage (e.g., launching BadgerCare in Wisconsin) and led federal efforts to create the Medicare prescription drug benefit (Medicare Part D). Positions have varied over time on mandates and reforms, but record shows support for expanding government programs to broaden access rather than advocating for full privatization or single-payer.
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Immigration & Border
Supports securing the border and opposing amnesty for people who entered illegally, favors measures to prevent illegal entry and penalize employers who hire undocumented workers, and has emphasized fixing immigration laws through Congress. Positions expressed during his 2007–2008 campaign and other public statements prioritize stronger enforcement and border controls while discussing legislative fixes rather than broad regularization pathways.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Tommy Thompson is pro‑life and supports significant restrictions on abortion. As governor he signed parental-consent and partial‑birth abortion bans and has publicly stated that abortion should be illegal. His record includes actions and endorsements from anti‑abortion groups consistent with a strongly restrictive position on abortion access.
Climate & Energy
Tommy G. Thompson has supported both renewable energy (including ethanol and efforts to promote renewables in Wisconsin) and pro-fossil-fuel policies (calling for expanded oil and gas exploration, supporting fracking and pipelines). Public materials and commentary show a combination of market-oriented support for renewables alongside advocacy for increased fossil fuel production and energy independence.
News
A recent Wisconsin GOP social media post mistakenly confused Black Democratic candidates for governor, drawing attention to errors in political communications and representation. The incident reflects heightened political tensions in Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race environment, which is relevant to candidates like Tommy Thompson operating in the same political landscape.
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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
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