Ex-Gov. Tommy Thompson, a Republican, says 'Wisconsin is a blue state' after losses

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, a Republican, says his state is no longer a swing state. In an interview Wednesday with Wisconsin Public Radio, he pointed to his party's recent statewide defeats, including this week's race for governor. ¹

“Wisconsin is no longer a purple state,” Thompson said, adding that Republicans have not won a statewide race “for a long time.” ¹ That is a rare admission from a party elder.

On tapePBS Wisconsin · Nov 6

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The numbers behind his claim

Thompson was first elected in 1986 and served four terms. That makes him the longest-serving governor in Wisconsin's history. ¹

On Tuesday, Democrat David Crowley beat Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany for governor. NBC News' results page shows Crowley with 54.0% to Tiffany's 46.0%, an 8-point margin. ² Crowley will replace retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who backed him. ²

From Channel GOPGov.-elect David Crowley on making history in WisconsinDavid Crowley · 145 plays · captioned, with the source named

NBC's page also says the race shifted 8.85 points toward Democrats compared with the 2024 presidential election. ² That page was a snapshot with about 32,000 votes still outstanding, so the final numbers could move slightly. ²

Thompson also pointed to the state Supreme Court. The Hill reports that a conservative-aligned candidate has not won a seat on that court since 2019. Liberal-aligned candidates won clear victories in 2020, 2023 and 2025, and by 20 points in 2026. ¹

In 2025, Elon Musk put $25 million into the court race to back conservative candidates. Liberal-leaning Susan Crawford still won by 10 points. ¹

Wisconsin is no longer a purple state

Thompson called Donald Trump's Wisconsin success an exception. “Trump was an aberration, but Wisconsin is still a blue state,” he said. ¹ Republicans did win some recent statewide races, including Sen. Ron Johnson's victories in 2016 and 2022. ¹

A warning to his own party

Thompson said Republicans need to “rebuild.” He argued that state Republicans have ignored Dane County, which includes Madison, and Milwaukee County. Those are two of the state's most populous and bluest counties. ¹

He said he is probably the only Republican to have carried Dane County as governor, and that he carried Milwaukee County twice. He credited that to time spent there. ¹

If you want to overlook these counties you’re never gonna win

There is a counterpoint in the numbers. Wisconsin's presidential races have stayed close. The winner of each of the last three presidential elections took the state by less than one point. ¹ A state that tight can swing back.

What happens next

Crowley takes over from Evers, and Republicans must decide whether to follow Thompson's advice and compete in the state's biggest Democratic strongholds. That matters because Thompson is no Democratic critic. He is the face of the GOP's best years in Wisconsin, and he says those years are over.

The pattern is clear in the court races and the governor's race. In both, a Republican elder says his party kept losing by wide margins.

The Record

1. Nov 4, 1986Tommy Thompson is first elected Wisconsin governor and serves four terms, a state record. ¹
2. Apr 1, 2025Liberal-leaning Susan Crawford wins the state Supreme Court race by 10 points despite $25 million from Elon Musk backing conservatives. ¹
3. Nov 3, 2026Democrat David Crowley beats Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany for governor, 54.0% to 46.0% in NBC News' results. ²
4. Nov 4, 2026Thompson tells Wisconsin Public Radio that Wisconsin is a blue state. ¹

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<h2>Ex-Gov. Tommy Thompson, a Republican, says &#39;Wisconsin is a blue state&#39; after losses</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/ex-gov-tommy-thompson-a-republican-says-wisconsin-is-a-blue-state-after-losses">The GOP Files</a> on Friday, November 6, 2026.</em></p> <p>Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, a Republican, says his state is no longer a swing state. In an interview Wednesday with Wisconsin Public Radio, he pointed to his party&#39;s recent statewide defeats, including this week&#39;s race for governor.</p> <p>“Wisconsin is no longer a purple state,” Thompson said, adding that Republicans have not won a statewide race “for a long time.” That is a rare admission from a party elder.</p> <h2>The numbers behind his claim</h2> <p>Thompson was first elected in 1986 and served four terms. That makes him the longest-serving governor in Wisconsin&#39;s history.</p> <p>On Tuesday, Democrat David Crowley beat Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany for governor. NBC News&#39; results page shows Crowley with 54.0% to Tiffany&#39;s 46.0%, an 8-point margin. Crowley will replace retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who backed him.</p> <p>NBC&#39;s page also says the race shifted 8.85 points toward Democrats compared with the 2024 presidential election. That page was a snapshot with about 32,000 votes still outstanding, so the final numbers could move slightly.</p> <p>Thompson also pointed to the state Supreme Court. The Hill reports that a conservative-aligned candidate has not won a seat on that court since 2019. Liberal-aligned candidates won clear victories in 2020, 2023 and 2025, and by 20 points in 2026.</p> <p>In 2025, Elon Musk put $25 million into the court race to back conservative candidates. Liberal-leaning Susan Crawford still won by 10 points.</p> <blockquote><p>Wisconsin is no longer a purple state</p><p>&mdash; Tommy Thompson, former governor of Wisconsin, Republican</p></blockquote> <p>Thompson called Donald Trump&#39;s Wisconsin success an exception. “Trump was an aberration, but Wisconsin is still a blue state,” he said. Republicans did win some recent statewide races, including Sen. Ron Johnson&#39;s victories in 2016 and 2022.</p> <h2>A warning to his own party</h2> <p>Thompson said Republicans need to “rebuild.” He argued that state Republicans have ignored Dane County, which includes Madison, and Milwaukee County. Those are two of the state&#39;s most populous and bluest counties.</p> <p>He said he is probably the only Republican to have carried Dane County as governor, and that he carried Milwaukee County twice. He credited that to time spent there.</p> <blockquote><p>If you want to overlook these counties you’re never gonna win</p><p>&mdash; Tommy Thompson, former governor of Wisconsin, Republican</p></blockquote> <p>There is a counterpoint in the numbers. Wisconsin&#39;s presidential races have stayed close. The winner of each of the last three presidential elections took the state by less than one point. A state that tight can swing back.</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Crowley takes over from Evers, and Republicans must decide whether to follow Thompson&#39;s advice and compete in the state&#39;s biggest Democratic strongholds. That matters because Thompson is no Democratic critic. He is the face of the GOP&#39;s best years in Wisconsin, and he says those years are over.</p> <p>The pattern is clear in the court races and the governor&#39;s race. In both, a Republican elder says his party kept losing by wide margins.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/ex-gov-tommy-thompson-a-republican-says-wisconsin-is-a-blue-state-after-losses">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/ex-gov-tommy-thompson-a-republican-says-wisconsin-is-a-blue-state-after-losses.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Hill, “Former GOP governor: 'Wisconsin is a blue state'” (2026-11-07). thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6205785-tommy-thompson-declare
2. NBC News, “Wisconsin Governor Election 2026 Live Results: David Crowley Wins” (2026-11-04). nbcnews.com/politics/2026-elections/wisconsin-governor-resul

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