Counties containing a four-year University of Wisconsin campus moved substantially further toward Democrats than the rest of the state. The pattern extended beyond Madison and Milwaukee into smaller college communities.
The 13 counties hosting the main campuses of the Universities of Wisconsin shifted an average of 10.4 percentage points toward Democrats between the 2024 presidential election and the 2026 governor’s race. The other 59 counties averaged a 5.8-point shift, creating a 4.5-point difference.
Democrat David Crowley defeated Republican Tom Tiffany by approximately eight percentage points statewide, reversing Wisconsin’s narrow Republican preference in the 2024 presidential election.The Universities of Wisconsin system includes 13 universities, located in communities ranging from Platteville and Stevens Point to Milwaukee and Madison. (RELATED: Crowley Admits to Knowing About $4.6 Million Budget Gap Before Election)
Eau Claire County (UW-Eau Claire) shifted 12.3 points toward Democrats, nearly matching Milwaukee County’s 12.8-point movement. Grant County (UW-Platteville) moved 11.2 points, representing the second largest swing for the Democrats, bringing the republican margin within single digits. Portage County (UW-Stevens Point) shifted 11 points, expanding its Democratic margin from approximately 1.2 points in 2024 to 12.2 points in 2026.
The smallest shift came from Pierce County (UW-River Falls), only shifting 7.3 points. Despite these shifts, Tiffany still carried Grant, Dunn (UW-Stout), Walworth (UW-Whitewater), and Pierce. When the 72 counties were randomly reassigned into groups of 13 and 59 on 20,000 occasions, none produced an average swing gap as large as the observed difference. Less than .01% chance of this outcome occurring.
However, Democrats also flipped the Assembly seats in River Falls and Menomenie. These were some of the smallest swings in the 2026 gubernatorial election compared to the 2024 election, but still flipped those two Assembly seats. Democrat Jeremiah Fredrickson defeated Republican incumbent Clint Moses by approximately seven points in Assembly District 92, while Democrat Kevin Knoke defeated incumbent Shannon Zimmerman by approximately six points in District 30. (RELATED: Alfonso Wins Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, Defeating Clark)
In February 2024, Governor Tony Evers signed new legislative maps into law, replacing boundaries that had favored Republicans. The maps created more competitive districts, particularly in communities surrounding college campuses. This also helped propel Democrats with their recent legislative victories.
