As part of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce's Ballot Brief podcast series, Democratic gubernatorial candidates Joel Brennan, David Crowley, Francesca Hong, and Kelda Roys shared their visions for Wisconsin's future.
While all four candidates identified affordability, workforce development, housing, and economic growth as major priorities, they often proposed different approaches to achieving those goals. Below is a comparison of where their policy priorities align and where they differ.
Linked below will be the individual breakdown of each candidate interview:
Francesca Hong: https://www.eauclairechamber.org/2026/08/06/what-francesca-hong-said-about-wisconsins-future-key-takeaways-from-the-ballot-brief-podcast/
Affordability
Affordability emerged as the dominant theme across every interview, though each candidate emphasized different solutions.
Joel Brennan
Focused on:
- Housing affordability.
- Healthcare affordability.
- Long-term fiscal stability.
- Workforce investments.
David Crowley
Focused on:
- Housing affordability.
- Raising the minimum wage.
- Shared revenue reform.
- Community investment.
Francesca Hong
Focused on:
- Free childcare.
- Paid leave.
- Public healthcare options.
- Progressive taxation.
- Public investment.
Kelda Roys
Focused on:
- Childcare.
- Healthcare.
- Housing.
- Energy costs.
- Workforce affordability.
Common Ground
All four candidates argued Wisconsin needs to become more affordable for families and employers.
Key Differences
Hong emphasized expanding public programs funded through progressive taxation. Brennan focused more on targeted affordability investments and fiscal sustainability. Crowley emphasized community investment and wage growth, while Roys centered affordability around childcare, healthcare, and housing.
Housing
Housing was discussed by every candidate but with different policy approaches.
Brennan
- 3% WHEDA mortgage program.
- Build 100,000 starter homes.
Crowley
- Expand affordable and "missing middle" housing.
Hong
- Expand affordable housing.
- Strengthen tenant protections.
- Make housing easier to build.
Roys
- Increase affordable housing as part of a workforce strategy.
Common Ground
Every candidate identified housing shortages as a workforce issue.
Key Differences
Brennan proposed the most detailed homeownership strategy, while Hong and Crowley placed greater emphasis on affordability and housing supply. Roys tied housing directly to workforce participation.
Education
Education received broad support across the field.
Brennan
- Reform school funding.
- Invest in UW campuses and technical colleges.
Crowley
- Supported education and workforce partnerships through local investment.
Hong
- Fully fund public schools.
- Expand university investment.
- Universal school meals.
Roys
- Increase public education funding.
- Phase out private school vouchers.
Common Ground
All candidates supported greater investment in public education.
Key Differences
Roys was the only candidate to explicitly support eliminating Wisconsin's voucher program. Brennan focused heavily on reforming the school funding formula, while Hong emphasized expanded public investment across all education levels.
Healthcare
Healthcare affordability appeared throughout each interview.
Brennan
- Lower healthcare costs.
Crowley
- Improve affordability through broader community investment.
Hong
- Public option.
- Medicaid expansion.
- Hospital price reforms.
Roys
- Allow residents and employers to buy into the state employee health insurance plan.
Common Ground
All candidates viewed healthcare affordability as both a family and business issue.
Key Differences
Hong and Roys proposed the most comprehensive structural healthcare reforms, while Brennan emphasized affordability and Crowley discussed healthcare primarily within broader economic development.
Small Business & Economic Development
Every candidate emphasized supporting Wisconsin businesses but proposed different strategies.
Brennan
- Grow existing Wisconsin businesses.
- Support entrepreneurs.
- Leverage university innovation.
- Review regulations.
Crowley
- Create a one-stop resource center.
- Keep investment circulating in local communities.
- Encourage greater competition.
Hong
- Create a public bank.
- Expand grants.
- Offer low-interest loans.
- Strengthen local supply chains.
Roys
- Prioritize entrepreneurs and locally owned businesses.
- Reduce reliance on large corporate incentive packages.
Common Ground
All four candidates prioritized supporting Wisconsin's existing businesses over relying heavily on recruiting large corporations.
Key Differences
Hong proposed the largest expansion of public financing tools through a public bank. Crowley emphasized centralized business assistance, Brennan focused on organic business growth, and Roys emphasized entrepreneurship and local business development.
Shared Revenue & Local Government
Every candidate discussed strengthening local governments.
Brennan
- Increase investment in growing communities.
Crowley
- Expand local fiscal flexibility.
Hong
- Increase municipal funding.
Roys
- Reform shared revenue and restore greater local control.
Common Ground
All four candidates supported reforming Wisconsin's shared revenue system to strengthen local governments.
Data Centers
Data centers represented one of the clearest areas where candidates shared concerns but differed on implementation.
Common Ground
All four candidates supported:
- Environmental protections.
- Local government involvement.
- Greater transparency.
- Requiring developers to pay infrastructure costs.
- Limiting taxpayer exposure.
Key Differences
Hong was the only candidate supporting a temporary moratorium on new hyperscale AI data centers. Roys instead argued Wisconsin should immediately adopt strong regulations while allowing projects to move forward.
Workforce Development
All candidates connected workforce issues to affordability.
Common priorities included:
- Childcare.
- Housing.
- Education.
- Healthcare.
- Workforce training.
Hong and Roys placed the greatest emphasis on childcare as a workforce strategy, while Brennan focused heavily on higher education and preparing workers for technological change. Crowley emphasized balancing workforce needs with business growth.
Artificial Intelligence
Only Hong and Roys discussed AI extensively.
Hong
- Worker retraining.
- Collective bargaining protections.
- Limits on AI-driven employment decisions.
Roys
- Consumer protections.
- Privacy.
- Healthcare oversight.
- Technology regulation.
Looking Ahead
Although the candidates often proposed different policy tools, several themes consistently emerged across the interviews. Each candidate emphasized improving affordability, increasing the availability of workforce housing, supporting small businesses, strengthening Wisconsin's workforce, reforming shared revenue for local governments, and increasing oversight of large-scale data center development.
Where they diverged was in how they would achieve those goals. Some candidates favored broader public investment and expanded government programs, while others emphasized targeted economic development, fiscal sustainability, or regulatory reforms. For Wisconsin voters and the business community, these differences offer distinct visions for how the state's economy, workforce, and communities could be shaped over the coming years.