Brett Hulsey
Brett Hulsey (Democratic Party) is running for election for Governor of Wisconsin. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on August 11, 2026.[source]
Hulsey was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing District 78. He assumed office in 2011. He left office in 2015.
Biography
Hulsey obtained a B.A. from Middlebury College and an M.S. in Natural Science from the University of Oklahoma.
Hulsey had been a Dane County Board Supervisor from 1998 up until his election. Hulsey is the founder and president of Better Environmental Solutions, a small business that consults about renewable energy.[1]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Hulsey served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Energy and Utilities |
| • Government Operations and State Licensing |
| • Jobs, Economy and Mining |
| • Tourism |
| • Ways and Means |
2011-2012
During the 2011-2012 legislative session, Hulsey served on these committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Energy and Utilities |
| • Natural Resources |
| • Transportation |
Elections
2026
See also: Wisconsin gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on August 11, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
General election for Governor of Wisconsin
Oliver Carranza (Independent), Crystal Harper (Independent), David King (Independent), and Mike Kohn (Independent) are running in the general election for Governor of Wisconsin on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Oliver Carranza (Independent) | ||
| Crystal Harper (Independent) | ||
 | David King (Independent) | |
| Mike Kohn (Independent) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Governor of Wisconsin
The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Governor of Wisconsin on August 11, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Mandela Barnes | |
| Joel Brennan | ||
 | David Crowley | |
 | Francesca Hong | |
 | Missy Hughes | |
 | Brett Hulsey | |
 | Sara Rodriguez | |
| Zachary Roper | ||
 | Kelda Roys | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ryan Strnad (D)
Republican primary
Republican primary for Governor of Wisconsin
Andrew Manske (R) and Tom Tiffany (R) are running in the Republican primary for Governor of Wisconsin on August 11, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Andrew Manske | |
 | Tom Tiffany | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Bill Berrien (R)
- Josh Schoemann (R)
Endorsements
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2014
- See also: Wisconsin Gubernatorial election, 2014
Hulsey was running for election to the office of Governor of Wisconsin. Hulsey did not win the Democratic nomination in the primary on August 12, but filed as an independent write-in candidate for governor on October 23.[2]
Results
General election
| Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Scott Walker/Rebecca Kleefisch Incumbent |
52.3% | 1,259,706 | |
| Democrat | Mary Burke/John Lehman | 46.6% | 1,122,913 | |
| Libertarian | Robert Burke/Joseph Brost | 0.8% | 18,720 | |
| Independent | Dennis Fehr | 0.3% | 7,530 | |
| Nonpartisan | Scattering | 0.1% | 1,248 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0% | 200 | |
| Total Votes | 2,410,317 | |||
| Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board | ||||
Primary election
| Wisconsin Gubernatorial Democratic Primary, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
| Mary Burke |
83.4% | 259,926 | ||
| Brett Hulsey | 16.6% | 51,830 | ||
| Total Votes | 311,756 | |||
| Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. | ||||
2012
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2012
Hulsey won re-election in the 2012 election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 78. Hulsey defeated Christopher Fisher in the Democratic primary on August 14 and defeated Jonathan Dedering (G) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[3][4]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Brett Hulsey Incumbent |
75.4% | 22,853 | |
| Green | Jonathan Dedering | 24.2% | 7,323 | |
| - | Scattering | 0.4% | 118 | |
| Total Votes | 30,294 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Brett Hulsey Incumbent |
91.3% | 5,215 |
| Christopher Fisher | 8.7% | 497 |
| Total Votes | 5,712 | |
2010
- See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2010
Hulsey defeated Republican David Redick, Green Party Ben Manski, and Independent David Olson in the November 2 general election. Hulsey defeated Democrats Dianne Hesselbein, John Imes, Fred Wade and Douglas Zwank in the primary election.[5]
| Wisconsin State Assembly, District 77 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Brett Hulsey (D)
|
12,142 | |||
| Ben Manski (G) | 7,762 | |||
| David Redick (R) | 4,670 | |||
| David Olson (I) | 373 | |||
| Wisconsin State Assembly, District 77 Democratic primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Bret Hulsey (D)
|
2,904 | 44.17% | ||
| Dianne H. Hesselbein (D) | 1,992 | 30.3% | ||
| Fred Wade (D) | 1,125 | 17.11% | ||
| John Imes (D) | 347 | 5.28% | ||
| Douglas C. Zwank (D) | 205 | 3.12% | ||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2010
Hulsey's website highlighted the following campaign themes: "Progress for a better Wisconsin."
- Education
- Conservation - Supports a ban on unnecessary commercial diesel idling.
- Energy - Supports clean jobs, clean energy and clean air.
- Health care - For a healthier Wisconsin.
- Human rights - Supports a woman's right to choose.
- Human services - Believes in protecting vulnerable citizens, and champions seniors.
- Labor - Believes he understands labor issues.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Hulsey is married and has two children.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Wisconsin scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2014
In 2014, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 14 through June 4.
- Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce: 2013-2014 voting record
- Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position.
- National Federation of Independent Business in Wisconsin: 2013-2014 legislative voting record
- Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters: 2013-2014 scorecard
- Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues.
- Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce: 2013-2014 voting record
- Legislators are scored on their votes on legislation WMC deemed as "most important issues for the business community."
- Wisconsin Professional Police Association: 2013-2014 report card
- Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community.
- Wisconsin Sierra Club: 2013-2014 scorecard
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 7 to December 31.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 10 through March 16.
|
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Brett Hulsey, "Campaign website," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbrett - ↑ Government Accountability Board, "2012 Fall Partisan Primary," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Government Accountability Board, "2012 Fall General Election," accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed April 25, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mark Pocan (D) |
Wisconsin State Assembly District 78 2013-2015 |
Succeeded by Lisa Subeck (D) |
| Preceded by Spencer Black |
Wisconsin State Assembly District 77 2011 - 2013 |
Succeeded by Terese Berceau (D) |
