Milwaukee, Wis. — Democratic candidate for governor Joel Brennan today outlined a comprehensive Plan to Defend Our Democracy to safeguard Wisconsin’s elections in response to President Donald Trump’s call to “nationalize” elections and allow the federal government to take control of voting in certain states — a move that would undermine the Constitution and override states’ authority.
“We will not let Donald Trump undermine our right to free and fair elections,” Brennan said. “As governor, I will protect election workers, defend voter access, and make sure Wisconsin voters — not Washington politicians — decide the outcome of our elections.”
The decisive steps Brennan will take to protect Wisconsin’s election system include:
- Protecting election workers and officials from threats, harassment, and intimidation by directing state resources to keep them safe.
- Defending early and absentee voting, including allowing clerks to securely process mail-in and early ballots before Election Day to speed counting and improve transparency.
- Countering election misinformation by elevating facts and trusted election officials when false claims threaten public confidence.
- Defending Wisconsin’s authority over elections, including deploying state law enforcement resources — and, if necessary, the Wisconsin National Guard — to safeguard election workers, polling places, and election infrastructure.
- Expanding voter participation for all eligible Wisconsinites to make democracy work better for everyone, not to benefit any political party.
During his tenure as president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, Brennan convened business and civic leaders to publicly affirm the integrity of Wisconsin elections and counter misinformation with facts.
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.
