MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — Eric Hovde won’t be running for Wisconsin governor.
The former U.S. Senate candidate made the announcement on a video posted to X on Wednesday.
“I really appreciate everybody’s support and encouragement for me to get in the governor’s race, but now is not the time,” Hovde said.
Hovde said he wants to spend more time with his family following his narrow election loss run last year to incumbent Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin.
His decision leaves U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann as the major Republicans in the August 2026 primary.