MADISON – Former Organic Valley executive and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation head Missy Hughes has joined the Democratic primary for governor, pitching herself as a political outsider who will build a “Main Street economy” for the state.
Hughes, 57, who had served as Secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. since 2019, stepped down from the post earlier this month.
Misssy Hughes, the former head of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. is a Democratic candidate for governor.
“I’m not a politician, and that’s the point,” Hughes said in a statement. “To create a prosperous economy for the future in all 72 counties, we need a leader who knows what it takes to create jobs, support workers, and attract businesses —and who rejects divisive politics that leaves so many behind.”
As governor, Hughes pledged to “build a Main Street Economy where every Wisconsinite can get ahead with higher wages, affordable and accessible childcare and healthcare, housing that families can afford and count on, and strong public schools that prepare every child for the future.”
During her WEDC tenure, Hughes oversaw the renegotiation of a failed multibillion-dollar deal with Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn under the Walker administration and coordinated an effort to help businesses recover from the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, among other programs.
Her campaign touted her work at WEDC, during which “major companies like Milwaukee Tool, Microsoft, Eli Lilly, Kikkoman and more committed to invest over $10 billion and create 45,000 good-paying jobs across Wisconsin.” Hughes also touted her work on the Main Street Bounceback Program, which offered $10,000 grants to businesses moving into vacant spaces with funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
Hughes also said she “led the charge” for Wisconsin to be designated a “regional tech hub” by the Biden administration, which secured $49 million in federal funding for a medical sciences technology hub expected to create thousands of jobs, along with launching the Wisconsin Investment Fund, a $100 million public-private partnership to support entrepreneurs in the state.
Before being appointed as the state’s head of economic development by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, Hughes worked for 17 years as an executive at Organic Valley, a billion-dollar dairy cooperative.
In her application for the WEDC post, Hughes wrote that during her time with Organic Valley, she helped grow the number of participating family farms from 500 to 2,000 and from $150 million in annual sales to more than $1 billion.
Hughes has degrees in political science and law, and before joining Organic Valley, worked as a private attorney in Wyoming.
Republican lawmakers confirmed Hughes’ appointment twice.
Hughes is a mother of three. She lives outside of Viroqua with her husband, Tripp, their dogs, two donkeys and a flock of 70 sheep, according to her campaign bio.
She is the seventh candidate to join the Democratic primary following Gov. Tony Evers’ announcement that he will retire at the end of his term next year.
Already in the Democratic primary race are Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, state Sen. Kelda Roys, state Rep. Francesca Hong, baseball beer vendor Ryan Strnad and former state lawmaker Brett Hulsey.
On the Republican side, Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany are running. Whitefish Bay businessman Bill Berrien ended his campaign on Sept. 26.
Both parties will hold their 2026 primaries on Aug. 11, ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Missy Hughes enters Democratic field for Wisconsin governor in 2026