The Truth with Lisa Boothe: Wisconsin Governor’s Race: Can Tom Tiffany Defeat Socialist Francesca Hong?

Wisconsin’s race for governor is shaping up to be one of the most consequential—and ideologically divided—contests of the 2026 election. Lisa Boothe is joined by veteran Wisconsin political strategist Keith Gilkes, former chief of staff and campaign manager for Gov. Scott Walker, to break down the potential general election battle between Republican Tom Tiffany and Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong. Gilkes explains why Hong’s rise has upended the Democratic primary, how her progressive record and past comments could play with Wisconsin’s independent and moderate voters, and why Tiffany may have an opportunity to overcome a difficult national political environment for Republicans. They also examine Tiffany’s path to victory, the importance of campaign fundraising and paid media, Wisconsin’s notoriously tough political press corps, and lessons Gilkes learned from managing major statewide campaigns—including Tommy Thompson’s 2012 Senate race against Tammy Baldwin. Plus, Lisa and Keith look back at working together on the Thompson campaign, how Wisconsin politics helped launch Lisa’s television career, and what Republicans must do between now and November to win one of the country’s most important gubernatorial races.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.