Tony Evers wins reelection in Wisconsin's governor race

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Democratic incumbent Governor Tony Evers has been elected to a second term, defeating his Republican challenger, Tim Michels, in the hotly contested and most expensive governor's race in the country.

"Holy mackerel folks, how about that?” Evers told supporters in Madison at the Orpheum Theater. 

By early Wednesday morning Evers was leading Michels by 3 percentage points which triggered Michels to concede the race. 

Evers told the crowd he was "jazzed" by the outcome of the race and thanked supporters for showing up at the polls as turnout was a key factor to him securing a second term. The Democrat noted he's often described as boring, adding "you know what Wisconsin, it turns out boring wins."

Heading into Election Day, the race was predicted to be close, with Evers and Michels both locked at 48% in a final pre-election poll conducted by Marquette University Law School.

Millions poured into the race by Republican and Democratic groups, making it the most expensive governor’s contest in the U.S., according to AdImpact, a group that tracks campaign spending.

The outcome means Wisconsin will enter another four years of divided government with Republicans maintaining control of the state Legislature, while Evers serves as a check against their agenda.

Throughout his campaign, Evers framed the race as a fight to restore democracy by advocating for abortion access and protecting voting rights after he rejected Republican attempts to transform how elections are administered.

"You showed up for reproductive rights and freedom, for you and your neighbors to make their own health care decisions without having to ask me or any other elected official," Evers said. 

He made abortion a top campaign issue, along with many Democrats across the country, after Roe v. Wade was overturned, which gave states the power to enact their own abortion policies.

Evers criticized Michels for supporting Wisconsin's 1849 criminal abortion ban, embracing election conspiracy theories fueled by former President Donald Trump and attempts to overhaul K-12 education.

Evers’ victory represents a temporary shift from Trump's grip on Wisconsin politics after the former president won the state in 2016 but lost narrowly to Joe Biden in 2020. Trump endorsed Michels ahead of the August primary.

The 71-year-old Democrat was up against Biden's low approval numbers, with inflation and the economy top concerns among voters heading into Election Day.

Evers' win marks the first time in more than 30 years a Wisconsin governor has won reelection who represents the same party as the sitting president.