Polling Average
20%15%10%5%0%
16%
8%
7%
7%
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
$311.6K
AUG 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current rolePolitical organizer
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age45 years old (Feb 3, 1981)
GenderMale
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LocationWisconsin
BackgroundPolitical organizer
EducationHarvard University (BA)
Notable personal detailsBenjamin McDonald Wikler is an American political organizer who served as chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin from 2019 to 2025. He previously worked for progressive advocacy organizations including MoveOn, and has been active in Democratic campaigns and party-building efforts in Wisconsin. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin with his wife and three children.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgbenwikler.comwikidata.orglinkedin.comwpr.orgwisdems.orgsalon.comeverything.explained.todaybrownpoliticalreview.orgisthmus.comedelman-v-harvard.orgwisn.comwispolitics.comreddit.comdemocrats.orgurbanmilwaukee.comnonprofitquarterly.orgtmj4.comsecure.avaaz.orghillheat.newsadvancetitan.comtheguardian.comapnews.comweau.comwashingtonpost.comwww-staging.washingtonpost.comgovinfo.govhistory.house.govmerkley.senate.govnga.orgfec.govcongress.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports policies that shift tax burdens toward wealthy individuals and corporations while lowering costs for working- and middle-class families, and backs Democratic proposals to expand social programs and investments (e.g., Build Back Better). Criticizes Republican tax-cut plans as benefiting the wealthy and advocates making billionaires pay a fairer share to fund public services.
Healthcare
Supports protecting and strengthening the Affordable Care Act and health-care protections for people with pre-existing conditions; prioritizes expanding access to quality, affordable care and opposing efforts to roll back coverage. Emphasizes making health care a central Democratic issue in campaigns and defending COVID-era public-health responses.
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Immigration & Border
Has advocated for expanding refugee admissions and increased federal funding for refugee resettlement and has organized advocacy in favor of admitting more Syrian refugees. Public record shows work leading MoveOn campaigns supporting refugee resettlement and urging greater humanitarian response, with no prominent record of supporting expanded enforcement or restrictionist border measures.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports protecting and expanding abortion access and opposes restrictive abortion bans. Describes abortion as health care, calls for congressional action to protect abortion access, and has urged repeal or blocking of Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban and other restrictive laws.
Climate & Energy
The candidate has a history of active climate campaigning and has supported rapid transitions to clean energy, including organizing for 100% clean energy goals and public climate advocacy. Past roles include climate campaign work with Avaaz and public statements emphasizing urgent action on climate and building Democratic capacity to enact progressive policy.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports expanded background checks and 'red flag' (extreme risk) laws and advocates for common-sense gun safety legislation while acknowledging respect for lawful gun ownership. Has publicly criticized the NRA and called for laws to keep firearms out of the hands of people deemed a danger to themselves or others.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 16, 2026
Ben Wikler is in the news as Wisconsin Democrats push to unify ahead of the August primary and November general election, with the party aiming to win the governor’s race and take control of the state Legislature. The latest coverage does not report a specific new action by Wikler, but it places him in the middle of a broader Democratic effort to overcome recent infighting and improve turnout. Other recent reporting around Wisconsin politics has focused on voter skepticism, especially among younger voters, and on election rules and legislative maps that could shape the races ahead.
en.wikipedia.org+31
Articles
WWEAU3 months ago
How Wisconsin’s legislative maps could impact the general election
Neutral
PPOLITICO3 months ago
Trump’s voter crackdown reaches college campuses
Negative
GBGreen Bay Press-Gazette3 days ago
Evers shrugs off rifts, rallies Dems ahead of high-stakes elections
Neutral
GBGreen Bay Press-Gazette14 days ago
Minocqua Brewing's Kirk Bangstad fails to qualify for governor's race
Neutral
Polls
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
Endorsers of Ben Wikler for Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
Hakeem Jeffries
Political organization
Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Ben Wikler for Democratic National Committee chair.
Nancy Pelosi
Political organization
Nancy Pelosi endorsed Ben Wikler for Democratic National Committee chair.
Chuck Schumer
Political organization
Chuck Schumer endorsed Ben Wikler for Democratic National Committee chair.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising