With Trump’s Backing, Tom Tiffany Coasts To GOP Primary Win For Governor

Republican candidate for governor Rep. Tom Tiffany speaks Saturday, May 16, 2026, during the Republican Party of Wisconsin State Convention at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Baraboo, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany easily won his primary over Andy Manske Tuesday night.

The Associated Press called the race at 8:21 p.m., just minutes after the polls closed in the state.

Tiffany’s endorsement by President Donald Trump helped him avoid the kind of contentious primary that has hurt Republicans in previous election cycles. This let him run months of positive TV ads in an effort to define himself to voters before Democrats get the chance.

Tiffany has raised millions this year, largely through massive transfers from the Republican Party of Wisconsin. The state GOP has raised the bulk of its money from three megadonors — Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein and Diane Hendricks.

Tiffany’s alliance with the president runs deep. He’s one of the most conservative members of the U.S. Congress, who signed on to a lawsuit challenging former Democratic President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in Wisconsin and voted to object to Pennsylvania and Arizona election results on Jan. 6, 2021.

But as Trump’s approval has plummeted this year, amidst his unpopular war with Iran and a rising cost of living, Tiffany has worked to portray himself as a Wisconsin everyman. While the Democratic candidates battled it out in a chaotic primary, he has largely presented himself as the sane choice.

Tiffany will be joined on the ticket by David Varnam, a former mayor of Lancaster who won a race for GOP lieutenant governor. The Associated Press called the race at 9:36 p.m.

To see Wisconsin primary election results, click here.

With Donald Trump’s backing, Tom Tiffany coasts to GOP primary win was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.