What's on the Ballot in Wausau: November 3, 2026 Election

The races below are read from the City of Wausau, the state election office and Ballotpedia. What each candidate says is quoted from their own campaign site or a questionnaire they answered, with the link beside it. This page does not recommend anyone.

Election day is November 3, 2026. Last updated October 4, 2026. For polling places, hours and ID rules, see voting in Wausau.

State

Governor

Candidate list from Ballotpedia News

David Crowley(Democratic)

Campaign website

David Crowley is Milwaukee County Executive and previously served as a Wisconsin state representative. His campaign biography says he and his wife are raising three daughters in Milwaukee. (David Crowley for Wisconsin — David’s Story)

In their own words

Affordability: His campaign says it will address affordability through housing, energy, child care and health care measures, and take its Building Bridges Program statewide to revitalize commercial corridors and create jobs. David Crowley for Wisconsin — Issues and plan
Family services: He says he will focus on making sure children and families are safe, healthy and able to thrive. David Crowley for Wisconsin — David’s Story
Housing and justice: His campaign says his priorities include housing, criminal justice reform and reproductive freedom. David Crowley for Wisconsin — David’s Story

Tom Tiffany(Republican)

Campaign website

Tom Tiffany grew up on a dairy farm in western Wisconsin, attended UW–River Falls and became a small-business owner. He has served as a Town of Little Rice supervisor, a state legislator and a member of Congress. (Tom Tiffany for Governor, Tom Tiffany for Governor — About)

In their own words

Taxes and energy: He says he would freeze property taxes and lower energy costs by expanding reliable baseload power. Tom Tiffany for Governor — Solutions
Regulation: He says he would cut regulations to make housing, child care and health care more affordable. Tom Tiffany for Governor — Solutions
Housing: Tiffany said he would propose a 30-day deadline for approval of new subdivisions, incentivize local governments that speed up permitting and review the state’s Uniform Dwelling Code for outdated cost-increasing rules. Tom Tiffany for Governor — campaign coverage

Jamie Jo Carothers(Independent (write-in))

Jamie Jo Carothers is an independent write-in candidate for governor. A candidate profile reports that she earned an associate degree from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and has worked as a writer and substitute teacher. (Jamie Jo Carothers — 2026 Wisconsin Governor Election)

In their own words

Write-in voting: The profile says she considers eligible Wisconsin voters able to write in her name for governor on November 3, 2026, and that those write-in votes will be counted. Jamie Jo Carothers — 2026 Wisconsin Governor Election

Secretary of State

Candidate list from Ballotpedia News

JoCasta Zamarripa(Democratic)

Campaign website

JoCasta Zamarripa is a second-term Milwaukee alderperson and a former Wisconsin state representative. Her campaign says she was born and raised in Milwaukee. (JoCasta Zamarripa for Wisconsin Secretary of State)

In their own words

Housing: She supports greater state investment in affordable housing, including preventing displacement and improving opportunities for renters and first-time homebuyers. JoCasta Zamarripa for Wisconsin Secretary of State — Issues
Child care: She supports state investment to expand access to child care, improve its quality and ensure providers are paid fairly. JoCasta Zamarripa for Wisconsin Secretary of State — Issues
Public schools: She says Wisconsin should fund public education fully through the state rather than relying on referenda and community fundraising. JoCasta Zamarripa for Wisconsin Secretary of State — Issues

Jay Schroeder(Republican)

WUWM identifies Jay Schroeder’s current occupation as a real estate and stock investor. The station’s candidate profile does not provide further biographical details. (WUWM — Wisconsin Secretary of State election: Meet the candidates)

In their own words

Election oversight: In his questionnaire, Schroeder said Wisconsin needs a secretary of state in charge of elections. WUWM — Wisconsin Secretary of State election: Meet the candidates
Voting procedures: He said he would eliminate voting machines and use paper ballots, support same-day voting, restrict mail voting and drop boxes, and require proof of citizenship and identification. WUWM — Wisconsin Secretary of State election: Meet the candidates
Office accountability: He said he would move the secretary of state’s office out of Dane County and make its employees accountable for election integrity. WUWM — Wisconsin Secretary of State election: Meet the candidates

Pete Karas(Green)

Campaign website

Pete Karas is a retired small-business owner and former Racine City Council member, serving from 2003 to 2009. Wisconsin Watch describes him as living in Muskego; a source reviewed did not specify how long he has lived there. (Wisconsin Watch)

In their own words

Records access: He said his priorities include modernizing public records so people can find information without hiring a lawyer, proactively publishing documents, and promoting ranked-choice voting and public campaign financing. He also called for a searchable, machine-readable records database and plain-language explanations of the office’s work. Vote411
Voting and finance: He supports ranked-choice voting and public campaign financing, saying those changes would give Wisconsin voters more choices and reduce candidates’ reliance on wealthy donors. Vote411
Office responsibilities: He said the Secretary of State’s office should have significantly more responsibilities and proposed transferring neutral management of the Capitol—including public access, facilities, historic preservation, event permits, and space allocation—to that office. He also supports making the office nonpartisan. Wisconsin Watch