http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/joel-brennan-campaign-2026-s434.pngBewley says Brennan is electable in the primary and general election and will appeal to everyday Wisconsinites.

Ashland, WI - Former Democratic State Senate Leader Janet Bewley today released the following letter announcing her enthusiastic endorsement of Joel Brennan for Wisconsin Governor.

Bewley, who served as leader until  2023, said she is endorsing Joel because we need a candidate "who is electable in the primary and general election and who will appeal to everyday Wisconsinites. Who will fight for our way of life, great healthcare and schools, and affordable cost of living for those of us who are not billionaires."

Bewley also wrote, "Joel knows how to run a state...But what I admire most about Joel, beyond his depth of experience, is that he is the kind of person who lives by a solid set of core values."

Read the full letter here:

Why I’m Endorsing Joel Brennan

As a former Wisconsin State Senator, I have not endorsed a candidate in a partisan primary. Until now.

In the current primary race for the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, with just a few weeks out from the August 11 primary election, I’m expecting lots of noise, confusion, and inconsistent hyperbole.  We may be shouted at in television and radio ads, and screams from our various devices and the nightly news.

Whenever this starts, I find myself thinking, if only campaigns could be simple and truthful. I found a candidate for governor who fits that bill, and I am excited to endorse: Joel Brennan.

Here’s what made up my mind.

I want a candidate who is electable in the primary and general election and who will appeal to everyday Wisconsinites. Who will fight for our way of life, great healthcare and schools, and affordable cost of living for those of us who are not billionaires. As Joel says, “Wisconsin families work too hard to have nothing left at the end of the month.”

There are many good Democratic candidates, but we must select the one who will do the best job as governor once elected, and then work like hell to get that person elected.

That’s why I endorse, and I will vote for, Joel Brennan.

Joel knows how to run a state. As Secretary of the Department of Administration under Gov. Tony Evers, his job included growing the Rainy Day fund and the state budget surplus. Joel has fiscal and policy experience from overseeing the creation of a $60 billion dollar biennial budget. He crafted programs and cooperative agreements as the top cabinet official, and he has private-sector experience running Discovery World museum for 11 years, guiding it through the 2008 financial crisis and even taking a pay cut himself to help guide it back to solid footing.

But what I admire most about Joel, beyond his depth of experience, is that he is the kind of person who lives by a solid set of core values.  

I drove the length of Wisconsin each time I reported for duty during my four terms in the Legislature, taking different routes to break up the routine, and along the way I learned much from all the people I met – Democrats, Republicans, Independents and “I don’t vote much” folks. Just like us, they don’t like to be shouted at. They don’t want flashy. They want a governor who’s competent, smart, and cares about important kitchen-table issues. Someone who will listen to them.

I think they’d like Joel Brennan.

About Joel Brennan

Joel Brennan is a Democratic candidate for Governor of Wisconsin in the 2026 election. As Wisconsin’s former top appointed cabinet official and a leader in Milwaukee’s business and nonprofit community, he has spent his career in public service working with government, community leaders, and businesses to strengthen communities, uphold democratic values, and ensure government works for the people it serves. Brennan is running for governor to provide accountable leadership and to ensure Wisconsin families have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. For more information, visit www.BrennanforWI.com.