From Sheep to State

Missy Hughes on Building a Main Street Economy Wisconsin's 2026 gubernatorial race is wide open - and the stakes couldn't be higher. With no incumbent for the first time since 2010, a large and diverse field of Democrats are vying for the nomination in what will be one of the most watched races in the country. In this episode, Dr. Kristin Lyerly sits down with Missy Hughes, the former CEO of Wisconsin's Economic Development Corporation and longtime Organic Valley executive who's running on a platform of economic opportunity for all 72 counties. Hughes isn't your typical candidate. She lives in western Wisconsin on a farm outside of Viroqua with 70 sheep, two donkeys, and a passion for growing dahlias. She's run eight marathons. She's a lawyer who spent 17 years in the dairy industry before leading the state agency that brought Microsoft, Eli Lilly, Milwaukee Tool, and Kikkoman to Wisconsin - securing over $10 billion in investment and 45,000 jobs. Her pitch? I'm not a politician, and that's the point. We talk about her unlikely path from growing up in New York to rural Wisconsin, what a "Main Street Economy" actually means in practice, how she plans to bridge urban and rural divides, and what sets her apart. This is the fourth in our series of conversations with candidates for Wisconsin governor across the political spectrum. Listen to other episodes from this series of conversations with candidates for Wisconsin governor across the political spectrum. Wisconsin State Senator Kelda Roys is running to be the state's next governor, leveraging years of legislative experience and proven bipartisan wins to make her case to Wisconsin voters. Listen HERE Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez joins Dr. Lyerly to discuss her campaign to become Wisconsin's first female governor. Listen HERE Mandela Barnes was Wisconsin's first Black Lieutenant Governor. In 2022, he ran a nationally watched Senate race against Ron Johnson and lost by just 27,000 votes. Now he's running for Governor, and Wisconsin voters have questions. Listen HERE State Representative Francesca Hong isn't your typical gubernatorial candidate - and she'll be the first to tell you that. Listen HERE Guest: Missy Hughes