Polling Average
25%20%15%10%5%0%
18.9%
16.6%
9.6%
7.5%
7.5%
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
$2.2M
AUG 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age47 years old (Jun 24, 1979)
GenderFemale
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LocationWisconsin
BackgroundAttorney
EducationB.A., New York University (summa cum laude), 2000
Notable personal detailsKelda Helen Roys is a Democratic politician and attorney from Madison, Wisconsin, serving in the Wisconsin State Senate (District 26) since 2021 after previously serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly. She is a small business owner and has worked on civil rights and liberties issues. Roys launched a campaign for Governor of Wisconsin in 2025 after previously running for governor in 2018.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgasset.library.wisc.eduwisconsinpva.orgkeldaroys.comx.comlinkedin.comonyourballot.vote411.orgclimateintegrity.orgapnews.comciclt.netbiyografya.comfuturecaucus.orgballotready.orgwispolitics.commultistate.uskeldaandco.comtransparencyusa.orggpelections.orgkenoshacountywi.govwislawjournal.commadisonreporter.comurbanmilwaukee.com350wisconsin.orgmedium.comwmtv.comwsaw.comwisconsinwatch.orgweac.orgjsonline.compro.stateaffairs.comfacebook.cominstagram.comcaptimes.comwpr.orgcivicmedia.usmaciverinstitute.comwisconsinexaminer.comshepherdexpress.compbs.orgnews8000.comyoutube.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgcongress.govdocquery.fec.govfec.govhouse.govrepublicans-waysandmeansforms.house.govsenate.govbaldwin.senate.govronjohnson.senate.govwikidata.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports restoring and redirecting tax revenue to fund local services and public priorities, opposes large regressive tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy, and has sponsored refundable tax credits to provide relief for lower-income families.
Healthcare
Supports expanding coverage through public programs and a public option (including BadgerCare expansion and allowing buy-in to the state health plan), lowering prescription costs, expanding mental and behavioral health access, and workforce investments to stabilize rural care.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate supports dismantling and disarming ICE, calls for suspending ICE raids and protecting noncitizen community members, and defends international students and due process for immigrants. The candidate frames immigration enforcement as harmful and emphasizes welcoming immigrant communities and legal protections.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports codifying and protecting abortion and reproductive freedom in Wisconsin law, opposes enforcement of archaic abortion bans, and has a long record of advocacy for abortion access and reproductive healthcare. She has led and co-sponsored legislative efforts to restore abortion rights in state law and co-leads a legislative Reproductive Freedom Workgroup.
Climate & Energy
Supports state action on climate change including re-empowering the DNR, joining the Paris Agreement, and transitioning Wisconsin to 100% renewable energy by 2050 while prioritizing clean water, PFAS cleanup, and investments in clean infrastructure and energy resilience.
Public Safety & Guns
Kelda Roys supports expanded gun safety measures including universal background checks, red flag laws, safe-storage incentives and laws, and restrictions to keep firearms away from domestic abusers. She has called for commonsense gun reforms such as raising purchase age and limiting high-capacity magazines and has advanced legislation to close loopholes that allow domestic violence offenders to possess firearms.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 24, 2026
Kelda Roys is in the news as one of the remaining Democrats in Wisconsin’s crowded governor primary, which has been reshuffled by Sara Rodriguez’s exit and David Crowley’s return. Recent polling shows Roys trailing the top contenders, with many voters still undecided. She also joined other candidates in calling for an independent investigation into the Madison police shooting, which has become a campaign issue ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.
en.wikipedia.org+51
Articles
REReading Eagle5 days ago
Wisconsin Democrats want to allow absentee voters to cast a new primary ballot
Neutral
GBGreen Bay Press-Gazette2 months ago
7 Democrats running for governor to square off in televised debate
Neutral
GBGreen Bay Press-Gazette9 days ago
Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley getting back into governor's race
Neutral
WWEAU10 days ago
Wisconsin governor’s race fundraising: Where candidates stand
Neutral
Polls
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
Endorsers of Kelda Roys for Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
Jeff Spitzer-Resnick
Public endorsement
Jeff Spitzer-Resnick changed his endorsement to Kelda Roys.
Thomas Nelson
Elected official
Outagamie County Executive Thomas Nelson endorsed Kelda Roys for governor.
Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC)
Elected official
The Wisconsin Education Association Council endorsed Kelda Roys for governor.
Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) Political Action Committee
Elected official
WEAC's Political Action Committee recommended Kelda Roys for governor.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising