Governor of WisconsinCertified ballot
Missy Hughes
Former WEDC CEO
Photo: Ballotpedia
Is Missy Hughes on the November 3 ballot?
Missy Hughes is not on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Governor of Wisconsin. This page is kept as a record of the August 11, 2026 primary.
ⓘ What do the party and ideology labels mean?
On the ballot, partisan candidates run under a party — in Wisconsin almost always Democratic or Republican, with the occasional third-party or independent candidate. Words like progressive, conservative, libertarian, or democratic socialist are labels people use to describe themselves, not separate parties on the ballot. A label is a starting point; each candidate's sourced positions show where they actually stand.
How we do this →Who is Missy Hughes?
Stepped down from leading the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to run for governor; previously an executive in the dairy industry
Where does Missy Hughes stand on the issues?
Hughes centers her campaign on building what she calls a 'Main Street economy' and cites her record leading Wisconsin's economic development agency, attracting business investment, and helping create jobs across all 72 counties.
Position sources (1)
- campaignUrban Milwaukee
Hughes proposes expanding the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program to more families and instituting child care workforce measures including raising wages and training programs.
Position sources (1)
- campaignUrban Milwaukee
ⓘ What do these stance labels mean?
Each label describes how a candidate has spoken about an issue, drawn from a sourced statement — not our opinion. Support and oppose mean they've clearly taken that side. Mixed means their statements point both ways. Evolving means their stated position has changed over time. Unclear means we couldn't find a clear public statement. Every label links to the source it came from.
How we do this →ⓘ Sourced position vs. campaign claim — what's the difference?
A sourced position is something we tied to a specific public statement, with a link. A campaign claim is what a candidate's own site says about their priorities. We keep them separate so you can see the difference between a documented stance and a self-description.
How we do this →ⓘ How do I read these campaign-finance numbers?
Individual contributions come from people; PAC (political action committee) money comes from organized groups. Cash-on-hand is what a campaign has left to spend. Money shows who is backing a campaign — it is not an endorsement by us, and more money does not mean a candidate is better.
How we do this →Top reported contributors
- John Brogan (Green Bay)$6,100
- Christopher Coulter (Williams Bay)$5,000
- Samantha Sackin (La Farge)$5,000
- Butch Vig (Los Angeles)$5,000
- Aimee Larkin (Southampton)$5,000
Show 5 more
- Kathi P. Seifert (Appleton)$5,000
- Barb Worcester (Madison)$3,000
- Thomas K Flanagan (Kiawah Island)$2,500
- Felipe Obando (Philadelphia)$2,500
- Amos Hostetter (Boston)$2,500
Source: WI Ethics Commission (Sunshine) · non-commercial voter education use
Where the money comes from
| Individuals | 100% | $148,439 | 523 donors |
|---|
15% from donations under $200 (348 donors)
- under $200$21,668 · 348 donors
- $200–$999$46,021 · 138 donors
- $1,000 and up$80,750 · 37 donors
Individual donors only, grouped by each donor's total
62% from Wisconsin
- Wisconsin$92,177 · 357 donors
- Out of state$56,217 · 165 donors
- Unknown$45 · 1 donors
Individuals and businesses; committees excluded
Monthly fundraising
| 2026-01 | $15,796 |
|---|---|
| 2026-02 | $25,463 |
| 2026-03 | $18,029 |
| 2026-04 | $26,372 |
| 2026-05 | $35,419 |
| 2026-06 | $27,360 |
Itemized contributions, filings through Sep 23, 2026 · Source: WI Ethics Commission (Sunshine)
Political ads about Missy Hughes
Ads a BadgerBrief editor confirmed are about Missy Hughes, from the Meta Ad Library. Spend is the range Meta discloses.
10 ads from 1 sponsor
- $200–$1,190
Missy Hughes
Support for Missy Hughes10 adsSee the 10 ads
Donald Trump has devastated Wisconsin’s farmers with reckless tariffs and a war of choice in Iran that has sent diesel prices skyrocketing. I’m proud to be in Eau Claire today to join hundreds of Wisconsinites exposing his attacks on our farmers.
$0–$99Paid for by MISSY FOR GOVERNORView ad on Meta
Donald Trump has devastated Wisconsin’s farmers with reckless tariffs and a war of choice in Iran that has sent diesel prices skyrocketing. I’m proud to be in Eau Claire today to join hundreds of Wisconsinites exposing his attacks on our farmers.
$0–$99Paid for by MISSY FOR GOVERNORView ad on Meta
Wisconsinites want to get things done. I was the only candidate for governor to support Governor Evers’ deal to get money to our schools and relief to families. As Governor, I’ll never let politics get in the way of results.
$100–$199Paid for by MISSY FOR GOVERNORView ad on Meta
Wisconsinites want to get things done. I was the only candidate for governor to support Governor Evers’ deal to get money to our schools and relief to families. As Governor, I’ll never let politics get in the way of results.
$100–$199Paid for by MISSY FOR GOVERNORView ad on Meta
It was the honor of my life to work for the farmers during my 17 years at @OrganicValley. Thank you to my friend Luke (@ForeverForwardWis) for a great conversation on Wisconsin’s agriculture industry. #MissyForWI #OrganicValley #WisconsinAgriculture #WisconsinFarmers #WisconsinFarm
$0–$99Paid for by MISSY FOR GOVERNORView ad on Meta
It was the honor of my life to work for the farmers during my 17 years at Organic Valley. Thank you to my friend Luke for a great conversation on Wisconsin's agriculture industry. #MissyForWI #OrganicValley
$0–$99Paid for by MISSY FOR GOVERNORView ad on Meta
Now more than ever, Wisconsin needs to be on our strongest footing so we’re ready to rebuild from the chaos of Trump and his sidekick, Tom Tiffany. This is why I’m running for Governor, we need a leader with proven experience to strengthen our economy so we can move Wisconsin forward. #MissyForWI
$0–$99Paid for by MISSY FOR GOVERNORView ad on Meta
Steve Scaffidi (@ocscaffidi) and @KristinBrey discuss Wisconsin’s failed bipartisan bill with @JoeZepecki on @620WTMJ’s Point Taken (May 15, 2026).
$0–$99Paid for by MISSY FOR GOVERNORView ad on Meta
Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey discuss Wisconsin's failed bipartisan bill with Joe Zepecki on Newsradio 620 WTMJ's Point Taken (May 15, 2026).
$0–$99Paid for by MISSY FOR GOVERNORView ad on Meta
I’ve been hitting the streets, collecting signatures to get on the ballot! But I need your support, sign up to get my official nomination form sent to you: MissyForGovernor.com/ballot #MissyForWI
$0–$99Paid for by MISSY FOR GOVERNORView ad on Meta
In the news about Missy Hughes
Coverage a BadgerBrief editor reviewed and confirmed belongs here. We link out — we don’t summarize. How we handle coverage ↗
- Democrat Missy Hughes drops out of Wisconsin governor race ↗2026-06-22Milwaukee Journal Sentinel · news outletGannett
- First Major Candidate Drops Out of Wisconsin Governor Race ↗2026-06-22Urban Milwaukee · news outlet · The funding model for Urban Milwaukee includes both advertising and a small retail outlet that sells Milwaukee-themed souvenirs and gifts.Urban Milwaukee was founded by Jeramey Jannene and Dave Reid, with Jeramey Jannene currently serving as president. Bruce Murphy joined as the editor in 2012. source ↗
- After previous doubts, Rodriguez says any Democrat could beat Tiffany ↗2026-06-22Milwaukee Journal Sentinel · news outletGannett
- Democrats in Governor's Race Call for Child Care Support ↗2026-04-01Urban Milwaukee · news outlet · The funding model for Urban Milwaukee includes both advertising and a small retail outlet that sells Milwaukee-themed souvenirs and gifts.Urban Milwaukee was founded by Jeramey Jannene and Dave Reid, with Jeramey Jannene currently serving as president. Bruce Murphy joined as the editor in 2012. source ↗
- Missy Hughes Raises More Than $200000 in Under 24 Hours ↗Urban Milwaukee · news outlet · The funding model for Urban Milwaukee includes both advertising and a small retail outlet that sells Milwaukee-themed souvenirs and gifts.Urban Milwaukee was founded by Jeramey Jannene and Dave Reid, with Jeramey Jannene currently serving as president. Bruce Murphy joined as the editor in 2012. source ↗
How this page was made
- Who made this
- Tarik Moody, in Milwaukee, independently. No ads, and no party, campaign or PAC money. Nobody has editorial input. About BadgerBrief
- How facts get in
- Ballot names come from the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s certified list, printed as you will see them. Votes are read from official roll calls; money from the Ethics Commission and the FEC. Positions and quotes appear only after a person checks each one against its source. Methodology
- Sources
- Last updated
- Not covered
- BadgerBrief does not rate, endorse or predict. Where a fact could not be sourced it is left out, not guessed. Local questions and city or village contests are on MyVote ↗.