Political outsider Bill Berrien enters race to be Republican governor of Wisconsin
Bill Berrien, 56, likens himself to President Donald Trump and is promising a 'Wisconsin First' agenda.
Berrien becomes the second Republican to announce for the 2026 contest.
Democratic Governor Tony Evers, 73, has not yet said whether he will seek a third term, but indicated this week he will announce his decision this month.
But that didn't stop Berrien from taking aim at Evers in his campaign launch video, calling the two-term governor a failure who has encouraged illegal immigration and 'welcomed boys into our daughters' sports and locker rooms.'
'We [have] to get away from the six years of Tony Evers, where we're going in the entirely opposite direction. This race is extremely winnable. I can win it. I can be the conservative governor that is going to make this the Wisconsin century,' Berrien told Fox News in his first interview since announcing his bid.
Berrien joins Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann as the only announced candidates for the race. This is Berrien's first race for office and it's the first statewide campaign for both he and Schoemann.
It was Trump's winning the battleground state of Wisconsin that helped propel him to victory in 2024.
Berrien called Trump's win 'historic' saying it reflected a 'shift across the board' among the Wisconsin electorate.
'It is the Republican workers' party – that's due to his leadership. I think we're gonna be building on that through this campaign,' Berrien said.
In his campaign launch video, Berrien walks in front of a tank and footage of Trump is shown after he was shot as Berrien talks about having a 'fighting spirit.'
'I'm an outsider. I'm a businessman, just like President Trump and I'll shake up Madison like he's shaking up D.C.' Berrien said. 'He's taking back Washington. We need to take back Madison for Wisconsinites.
'When we think about the last 10 years, there has only been two candidates that have been successful on a statewide basis, Senator Ron Johnson and Donald Trump. We have on my team, leaders who've been part of both of those races, and we have the team to win this. We have resources, and we have a clear lane and opportunity. Let's make this the Wisconsin century,' Berrien said.
Berrien promised to cut taxes as he accused Evers and Democrats of wanting to raise taxes. But just last week, Evers signed a state budget that cuts taxes by $1.5 billion.
Berrien also faulted Evers for opposing mass deportations and vetoing a bill that would have barred transgender people from playing on girls and women sports teams. Berrien pledged to sign that ban.
He also promised to increase wages, support police and make Wisconsin 'a manufacturing powerhouse.'
Donald Trump speaks is pictured at a town hall event with former Tulsi Gabbard at the La Crosse Center arena in La Crosse, Wisconsin, last August while on the campaign trail
Asked about Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill and the cuts to Medicaid, Berrien said he supports Medicaid work requirements and called the act 'wind in our sails for creating the Wisconsin century, making Wisconsin the manufacturing powerhouse to the world again.
'When you look at the business incentives for factory construction, investing in technology, investing in people, it's like a Black Friday sale for factory expansion, no coupons required.'
Berrien also faulted Evers for proposing to change state law related to the legal rights of children of same-sex couples who are born through in vitro fertilization, sperm donors or surrogates.
Evers wanted to replace the words 'woman,' 'mother' and 'wife' with variations or 'person who is inseminated' or 'inseminated person.'
Republicans removed the wording changes before passing the budget Evers signed into law.
A spokesperson for Evers declined to comment on Berrien's campaign launch.
Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Devin Remiker said Democrats will be ready to defeat 'whoever Trump handpicks to do his bidding in the primary and emerges as the nominee.'
Remiker said Democrats were building on their playbook that resulted in wins for a hotly contested state Supreme Court seat in April, the U.S. Senate race last year and the governor's race in 2022.
Berrien served nine years as a Navy SEAL and has been owner and CEO of Pindel Global Precision and Liberty Precision, manufacturers of precision-machined components in New Berlin, for the past 13 years. He is married and has two children.
Revitalizing Wisconsin manufacturing, restoring law and order and strengthening Wisconsin families are his top priorities, according to his campaign website.
'Wisconsin is the best of the country,' Berrien said. 'We make things, we build things, we work with our hands. My vision is we can be the manufacturing powerhouse of the world again. We can be ground zero for the success of the Trump-driven re-industrialization.'
Berrien formed a political action committee earlier this year that has raised $1.2 million since April.
Numerous other Republicans are considering a run for governor next year, including U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who represents northern Wisconsin, state Senate President Mary Felzowski and two-time losing U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde, a Madison businessman.
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