Businessman and retired Navy SEAL Bill Berrien on 9 July formally entered the Republican primary for Wisconsin’s 2026 governor’s race. The 56-year-old chief executive of precision-manufacturing firms Pindel Global Precision and Liberty Precision framed himself as a “political outsider” in the mould of former President Donald Trump and pledged an “America First” focus on reshoring industrial jobs. Berrien launched his campaign with a video criticizing Democratic Governor Tony Evers on immigration policy, transgender sports participation and budget proposals that revise gendered language. Evers has not yet said whether he will seek a third term. The first Republican to declare, Berrien joins Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann in the primary field, with several other GOP figures still weighing bids. He enters with financial backing that includes roughly $1.2 million raised since April through a political action committee and a record of giving $53,000 to Nikki Haley’s 2024 presidential effort, where he served as Wisconsin finance chair.