Former WEDC Secretary Missy Hughes running for governor

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – Democrat Missy Hughes, formerly Secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, is running for governor. 

Hughes announced she’s running for governor in a campaign video posted Monday morning. She served as Secretary and CEO of WEDC, the state’s economic development agency, since 2019. She resigned about a week and a half ago.  

In the new video, Hughes emphasized her business background and said that’s what sets her apart. 

“I spent 17 years as a dairy industry executive growing Organic Valley to a billion dollars in sales, and keeping Wisconsin family farmers on their land,” she says in the ad. 

That means at least six Democrats are now running for governor in 2026. They include Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, State Sen. Kelda Roys (D - Madison), State Rep. Francesca Hong (D - Madison), Milwaukee businessman Ryan Strnad, and now Hughes. 

Meanwhile, the roster of Republicans running changed last week. U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (7th District) joined the race on Tuesday. On Friday afternoon, businessman Bill Berrien dropped out after coverage of sexually explicit accounts he followed online. That leaves Tiffany and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann as the two Republicans in the race.