Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday that he won't seek a third term, setting off a scramble to replace the two-term Democrat in the battleground state’s first open race for governor in 16 years.

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman, who on Sunday announced his bid to head the Democratic National Committee, is pitching himself as a battle-tested state party leader with a record of scoring wins in difficult territory as he aims to become the new face of his national party after the Democrats’ election loss last month.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Democrat Gov. Tony Evers will not be running for re-election in 2026. That leaves Whitefish Bay Resident Bill Berrien and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann, both Republicans, as the two candidates who have announced they are running for the seat.

Gov. Tony Evers' decision not to run will make this the first wide-open race for governor in Wisconsin since 2010.