Polling Average
30%25%20%15%10%5%0%
19.5%
23.5%
Republican
Eric Hovde
Republican candidate for Governor in Wisconsin
Republican
Eric Hovde
Republican candidate for Governor in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Republican Governor nominee?
$27.4K
AUG 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Live Odds
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
Eric Hovde is trading at 0% to win the Wisconsin Republican Governor nominee? on prediction markets.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleBusinessman
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican
GenderMale
LocationWisconsin
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BackgroundBusinessman
EducationBA, Economics/International Relations, University of Wisconsin (1986)
Notable personal detailsEric Hovde is an American businessman from Madison, Wisconsin. He is CEO and co-owner of Hovde Properties, a Madison-based real estate development company, and is also CEO of Sunwest Bank. He has run for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin, including as the Republican nominee in 2024.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govhovdeproperties.compbswisconsin.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgwikidata.orgwebforms.fec.govdocquery.fec.govefilingapps.fec.govapi.open.fec.govispolitical.comapi.fecfile.fec.govfilpac.compublicapi.devpostman.comen.wikipedia.orgocvote.govcityofhunterscreek.comarxiv.orgwrn.compolitifact.comapnews.comwisdems.orgwisconsinindependent.comisthmus.comwisconsinexaminer.comcbs58.comfoxnews.comontheissues.orgwashingtonpost.comwisconsinwatch.orgbadgerherald.comlcvvictoryfund.orgclimatepower.uswuwm.comtimesofindia.indiatimes.comthedailybeast.comuschamber.comthebadgerproject.orgwisconsinrightnow.comtheendorsementproject.compredictionedge.comnbcnews.comfacebook.cominstagram.comvotesmart.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgcommons.wikimedia.orgcreativecommons.orgdata.ballotpedia.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgnews.ballotpedia.orgclerk.house.gov
Political Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports major tax cuts including sharply lower corporate rates, elimination of the estate tax, and much lower individual income tax rates; favors simplifying the tax code and extending the 2017 federal tax cuts while cutting federal spending and reducing deficits.
Healthcare
The candidate opposes the Affordable Care Act and has called for repeal and replacement in favor of private-sector, market-based solutions. He has said he supports only limited ACA provisions (such as protections for people with preexisting conditions) while criticizing most other parts of the law. He has also criticized ACA provisions like allowing young adults to remain on parents’ plans and promotes reducing the federal role in health care policy.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate emphasizes stronger border enforcement, blames lax border security for crime and fentanyl flow, and supports deporting people who entered the country illegally while prioritizing those with criminal records. He also says the legal immigration system is broken and should be fixed to make legal entry easier with clearer timelines and requirements.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports restricting abortion with exceptions for rape, incest, and when the mother’s life is at risk, and has expressed support for a 12–14 week ban while saying voters should decide timing limits. He previously expressed stronger anti‑abortion views in 2012 but has since revised his public position.
Climate & Energy
Supports an "all-of-the-above" energy approach that includes fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables; criticizes large federal clean-energy investments like the Inflation Reduction Act and rejects rapid mandated transitions to 100% clean energy. Expresses skepticism about the urgency/severity of some climate claims while acknowledging some human impact on the environment.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate opposes new restrictions on law-abiding citizens and favors stricter enforcement of existing gun laws while emphasizing mental-health interventions as a response to gun violence. He attributes some gun violence causes to mental health, video games, and social media and supports limits on youth access to social media.
Latest News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Eric Hovde is being mentioned in coverage about Wisconsin’s 2026 elections and the fight over congressional redistricting. The biggest issue is that control of the state government could decide whether Democrats can redraw congressional maps, with lawsuits also challenging the current map. Earlier coverage also noted that Wisconsin’s new legislative maps are already affecting 2024 races and could shift the balance of power in the state senate.
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Latest Polls
Wisconsin Republican Governor nominee?
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.
Eric Hovde currently averages 19.5%, ranking second in this race, 4.0 points behind the next candidate.
Polling average: 19.5%Position: secondMargin: -4.0 ptsLatest poll: 25.0% (Nov 17 - 21)Polls included: 2
Average recalculated from polls through Nov 17 - 21.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Wisconsin Republican Governor nominee?
Endorsers of Eric Hovde for Wisconsin Republican Governor nominee?
Scott Walker
Public figure
Scott Walker endorsed Eric Hovde in the Wisconsin U.S. Senate race.
Campaign Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Campaign finance totals from the latest available reporting period.
Total raisedCash on hand
$32.0M
$24.0M
$16.0M
$8.0M
$0
2024
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2024
$32.0M
$135.4K
$31.8M
$1.3M
Cycle 2026
—
$10.2K
$123.4K
$6.9K
Source: FEC