Andrew Manske
From Ballotpedia
Andrew Manske (Republican Party) (also known as Andy) is running for election for Governor of Wisconsin. Manske declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Manske completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2026
See also: Wisconsin gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for Governor of Wisconsin
The following candidates are running in the general election for Governor of Wisconsin on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Sara Rodriguez (D) | |
| Zachary Roper (D) | ||
 | Ryan Strnad (D) | |
| Bill Berrien (R) | ||
 | Andrew Manske (R)  | |
| Josh Schoemann (R) | ||
| Oliver Carranza (Independent) | ||
| Crystal Harper (Independent) | ||
 | David King (Independent) | |
| ||||
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Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Andrew Manske completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Manske's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Hi I'm Andrew, or as I'm often called by nickname "Andy" Manske. I'm 26 years old, a member of Gen Z and married 2 years ago now. I am currently working as a medical service tech in cities, suburbs and rural areas. I am the oldest of 3, and I have 2 younger sisters. I was born in Milwaukee. My parents wanted me in a better environment. This prompted them to move from Milwaukee into Franklin a suburb of Milwaukee. As a kid I remember long car rides going up towards Ashland county where my Grandma and Grandpa lived. I’ve always loved America, but I’ve also seen how much it’s changed since my childhood. Those visits up north hitting gas stations, and going through rural areas. What I saw were deteriorating buildings, infrastructure failing, locations shutting down, kids leaving. I saw the American dream dying, a middle class shrinking and jobs left for overseas. I have been working jobs since I've been 15. Elder care center staff, cart attendant, stocker, bussing, server, banking. I fought tooth and nail for anything to feel like I was getting ahead. This system is broken and needs reform and repair. In the 7 years of my adult life, prices have gone up 30%, with little concern shown by our state government. Home prices are inflated, little to no jobs. It's time to reduce the burden on the citizens of Wisconsin. I want to see a Wisconsin where everyone doesn't just survive, but we prosper. I ask for your long shot support.
- Embrace AI to reduce Government size, and give tax cuts to WI citizens. AI eventually will replace education, as the parent’s you pick the programing. On the flip side, I expect AI to raise unemployment to 15-20%. Wisconsin needs to prepare it’s citizens in advance. With new careers and jobs. Tax cuts on the table, ending property taxes. Repealing Wisconsin's gas tax on all gas stops, ending taxes on goods like female products, and finally reducing your tax burden from your paychecks.
- Roads and Sidewalk project. I will sign legislation that holds construction zones accountable by imposing state fees for every day a road or freeway project extends beyond 31 days from its start date. I will also seek to expand roadways, and properly adjust speed limits. Now with my sidewalk plan. Uneven sidewalks are a growing problem, often going unnoticed by city officials until someone gets hurt. They're falling apart, causing injuries, and making our communities less walkable. I propose creating a statewide system where residents can submit photos and exact locations of damaged sidewalks. This would empower citizens to take part in improving their neighborhoods.
- Rural Plan: Building the “Five Cities” to Revive Wisconsin: I will work to reduce taxes and incentivize businesses to invest in five key cities. Ashland, Green Bay, Stevens Point, Appleton, and La Crosse. These cities will be designated as special state development zones, serving as economic and cultural hubs for their surrounding counties. With targeted support, they will attract jobs, bring families back, lower the cost of living, and spark a revival in both these communities and the regions around them. Along with this my undertaking of building a highspeed rail to Green bay will help for both packer and Brewer fans traveling, and local economies up north.
When it comes to public policy, I want to be your voice. My entire life I have served this state one way or another. As a kid I made it to adulthood through the great adults of this state. I am loyal and hope to give back to my fellow citizens of my state. I plan to if elected allow myself to hear from each and every citizen. Going so far as to give my phone number and email out. Every Wisconsin. citizen could have a good idea. Yes bad ideas can come up, but the citizens who live here are the ones who will seek ways to make Wisconsin life better. I want to see people not just survive, but prosper. When we build a future generations including my hope to have kids will be better off. Thank you for taking the time to read this. God Bless you!
I look up to my god, and savior Jesus. Through him I can find peace, I can feel my family protected and he wants a relationship with each of us. Also not on the same level but stated in a earlier question response, I think naturally Trump. He's wild, he's rich and unable to be bought, cause he's rich. He follows his instincts and makes mistakes, but he barrels on. Doesn't matter if it's a bullet, impeachment, or a investigation. He resembles to me true Americana, the goofiness, the wrestling Trump, the Trump for the basic man. Again this man has made mistakes, and he should get pushback. But overall he's as American as most Americans come.
Honesty, seeking good, not prideful. I think a leader who lies to his citizens, a leader who doesn't seek to do good in their position and a leader who is full of himself and prideful. result in poor governance or worse life for it's citizens. So elected officials should be honest, and not corrupt, always seeking to work for their citizens.
To actually get the pledges they promised done? A politician who can't or won't try to achieve for the people their promises is a disgusting matter in my eyes. If I'm governor, then the people of my state are the kings and queens. And they need to be catered to by being honest to both them and my god.
If selected by primary, and then elected. I would leave a legacy of reform. Reducing taxes, common sense reform. I want to see this state rise up the ranks nationwide. I want to build projects like the highspeed rail, make the streets walkable and safe, and make the American dream exist again.
Honestly if we are talking about real lasting historical events in my lifetime. Trump's campaign and eventual victory in 2016 over Hillary Clinton seemed pretty big. I remember I was 17 and before this, I was a Obama guy who sadly fell victim to hope and change in middle school. I couldn't vote this election, but I had since moved on from Obama who had lied about several elements of his campaign to support a Bernie Sanders. Granted I still couldn't vote at 17. Bernie was screwed in the primaries after they rigged it for Hillary Clinton. Bernie back then spoke on topics differently. When Trump won when he wasn't expected to, and Hillary who had used deals to secure the nomination and went into the night expecting victory lost. it felt quite surreal. Trump talked about the forgotten men and woman, he talked about taking us back in time to simpler days where life was simpler. Trump made mistakes, but he started a new movement, a popular movement that truly fights for America First in our lives. The democrats went from the party representing the poorest, the average man. To the party of big donors, rich, and anti American policies.
My first job I had was working at a elder care center. I remember signing a form seeking to work but being under 16. I worked here for 2 years till I was about 17. The residents were real sweet and nice people. Some of them were depressed, being put into the center with no visits from their families. I was happy with the support, I could give these older individuals all those years ago.
I always enjoyed fantasy, Percy Jackson, Iron druid chronicles. I also enjoyed books on financial literacy like Rich Dad Poor Dad. I think now and as I get older, it will be the bible. The concept of believing god wants a relationship with me, that I can be saved and that I can be changed. Is quite endearing, I hope to build my faith, and become a better husband, brother, son, and neighbor to my state.
I really had to think for this question. I feel decently comfortable with myself, and try to love myself the best I can in real life. But If I must be pushed to choose, I think Batman or Bruce Wayne is really cool! Gadgets, protecting the common man and woman. Rising over tragedy, and bringing goodness to the world. He's quite intelligent, and he lives a life of charity. I think some may look at Batman and be like he's rich, he's buff, he's the light of Gotham. These are all fine things, but I look at the overall story and goodness.
Most of my life I have struggled on and off again with my own short comings. I've had depressive situations where my very soul has ached. I've had unknown to me, factors that have held me back from going out there and living a life I can be proud of. I had a hard time loving myself for a long time, I looked in others for something I felt lacking. These feelings I realize now aren't unique to me, everyone is struggling.
I believe seeking to address and pass legislation to benefit the people is very very important. I also think just as important is a leader who goes to disaster zones, and leads by example.
If it were my choice, government would be examined under a magnifying glass. Where is the people's money going. Is this necessary or have is government overreaching and spending money that could be used in ending tax burden. I think a governor should advocate for balanced spending, but also advocate for the citizens to not be slowly sunk in costs to their way of life, dreams and goals.
I'd use this if after debating the concept it is unconstitutional, puts a unfair burden on the people, or it's just widely corrupt and is being used for nefarious means.
I believe that the best relationship between a governor and state legislature is one of cooperation. I do think that when both sides come together, real reforms can pass. When half the state is demonizing the other we end up in a situation where grid lock occurs and we get nothing done for the people of Wisconsin.
I love the culture of my state. The dairy, the packers cheese heads, the Midwest nice as individuals would tell me. I love the unique things about our state. Our unique Summerfest, state fair, and dells. It's a wonderfully beautiful state, it's rural urban and suburban and each area feels different. You could probably like me add another 15 items just by thinking on this question. So I love Wisconsin, I love this state. I hope to see better days for my fellow citizens and my own family and future kids.
I think our greatest challenge stems from our identity. I think our general identity isn't focused. We are a industrial state, but much of our industry has gone overseas sadly. We have large financial hubs here, and tech corporations are flooding in. We have a large healthcare field. We have a large capital in Madison full of government workers, and other adjacent jobs to government. AI is here, and it will devastate communities. I don't think it's bad to be focused in multiple areas, and have different industries. But I think the banking and financial businesses, the tech jobs, the government jobs and healthcare jobs are at risk. AI will impact these industries much more then the harder to learn and master industrial jobs and physical jobs we had and still have. I think we must seek to understand that some industries will just disappear, and we need to foster a culture where individuals are multifaceted and can do plumbing, hvac, physical jobs and industrial jobs if the worst were to occur, to cushion the blow.
A governor should be able to use emergency powers in a emergency obviously. A governor shouldn't be tied or delayed when it's a matter of life and death for citizens. I also think a governor should be able to use emergency powers if tyrannical elements come forth. Or even some sort of group is seeking radical results against the people of our state.
I don't think it's a bad thing to vote on the direction of your future. Unfortunately this can be bad if the wording is bad. If it leaves voters confused on which way to vote, or how to feel on the matter. I think in a pure form ballot initiatives are a good thing. They allow government to gauge the views of their citizens. It would allow citizens to feel empowered, as their vote determines their future.
If I were to win that just means a job change. Nothing changes too much in my mind. I know god wants me to do good for those around me whether in my current role with medical helping the community, or going to Madison and seeking to do good before my 6 years would be up. A governor should always seek to leave office with their state in a better place.
On the top of my head, I am having a hard time thinking of one. But I will say this, God works in mysterious ways. With my medical job I've talked to parents of kids who were told by doctors and modern science the kid would die within a year. He lived to 24 when I met them. I met my wife by passing down a hallway at a college campus, and slowing down to look at papers on the wall. I found a paper for work study on campus, slowly as I started to work we met more and more. I'm a unusual individual most kids my age aren't getting married, reasons exist for that. But God can work in mysterious ways, whether you believe in him or not. Slow down, and enjoy life, you might be surprised what you find.
I am really proud of the fact I worked my way through college and got 2 degrees avoiding debt. My parents supported my desire to learn, but didn't financially. I didn't blame them for this, but went out and worked my way through college, even meeting my wife there.
I believe when it comes to AI the state should responsibly use it, as a tool to possibly enhance learning and future generations. I think the idea of government using AI to reduce overhead expense in the state, so we can dial back some of the taxes that are levied put on hardworking Wisconsin people sounds beautiful. AI can and will be destructive to entire industries, I think government should nudge people to enter new jobs, renew old fields. As jobs get hit, they are going to be protected because a government planned programs to ease the pain.
I would like to see legislation that makes it so the counting process is smoother, more transparent, and votes are secure and counted by a set time. I wouldn't mind a state holiday making everyone off for election day, I understand this may be more federal however.
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Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
