Thompson declares Wisconsin blue after GOP state losses
The former governor argues that recent defeats in the gubernatorial and supreme court races prove the state has shifted away from its purple status.
By Simon Bennett ·
Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson stated Wednesday that Wisconsin has returned to being a blue state, citing a string of recent losses for the Republican Party in statewide contests.
Thompson, who served four terms from 1986 to 2003, made the assessment during an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio. He noted that Republicans have not won a statewide race in the Badger State for a long time. His comments come after the party lost its bid for the governor's office on election night.
The current political landscape in Wisconsin shows a distinct shift for Democrats. In the recent gubernatorial race, Democrat David Crowley defeated Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany by eight points. This result contrasts with the 2016 and 2018 presidential victories won by Donald Trump and the 2016 and 2022 Senate victories secured by Ron Johnson. Thompson characterized those previous Republican wins as an anomaly driven by national appeal rather than local strength.
State Supreme Court results further support Thompson’s view. Conservative-aligned candidates have not won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court since 2019. Liberal-aligned candidates have secured clear victories in 2020, 2023, 2025, and 2026. In the most recent cycle, a liberal candidate won by 20 points. This occurred despite a $25 million investment by Elon Musk in the 2025 race to support conservative challengers, which did not prevent a 10-point loss for that side.
Presidential contests in Wisconsin have remained tighter than state-level races. Since Michael Dukakis in 1988, no winning presidential candidate has secured a majority of the vote in the state. In the last three presidential elections, the margin of victory for the winner was less than one point. Thompson believes these narrow margins mask the deeper Democratic trend in other offices.
Thompson advised state Republicans to rebuild their base by focusing on Dane County and Milwaukee County. He noted that these two counties, which include Madison and are among the most populous in the state, have been largely ignored by the party. Thompson is one of the few Republicans to ever carry Dane County and won Milwaukee County twice during his tenure.
The former governor said he spent considerable time in these regions to secure those wins. He warned that overlooking these areas makes victory impossible for the GOP. Thompson concluded that the state’s political identity has settled into a blue alignment, ending an era of purple state status.
