Swansenreport

Bangstad Falls Short of Ballot Threshold, Has Until Sunday to Cure Signatures

Minocqua Brewing Company owner and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kirk Bangstad has failed an initial signature review by the Wisconsin Elections Commission, leaving his spot on the August primary ballot in jeopardy — though the story isn’t over yet.

The WEC’s review, completed Tuesday, found that Bangstad submitted 1,504 valid signatures against the 2,000 required for statewide candidates. The shortfall traces to a paperwork error: roughly 40 of his 268 pages of nomination papers listed August 11 — the date of the partisan primary — as the election date, rather than November 3, the date of the general election. Circulators on some pages also omitted required information, including their municipality of residence. All signatures on affected pages were struck.

Under Wisconsin Administrative Code, candidates have three days after the filing deadline to correct errors through notarized affidavits. That puts Bangstad’s deadline at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 7. Importantly, he cannot simply collect new signatures to replace the invalid ones — each error must be individually cured through the affidavit process. The bipartisan commission will then make a final determination on ballot placement next week.

Bangstad, who announced his gubernatorial run in early May, pushed back on coverage characterizing him as eliminated. “I’m not off the ballot,” he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. His brewery’s Facebook page declared “Kirk Bangstad is NOT DEAD YET!” while also suggesting that fellow Democrats might attempt to challenge his remaining signatures to knock him below the threshold.

Seven other Democrats cleared the initial review and passed the 2,000-signature threshold: former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, Madison state Rep. Francesca Hong, former DOA Secretary Joel Brennan, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, state Sen. Kelda Roys, and former WEDC Secretary Missy Hughes. Republicans Tom Tiffany and Andy Manske also passed initial review.

Whether Bangstad can successfully rehabilitate enough signatures by Sunday to reach 2,000 — and whether any challenger moves to contest the signatures he does have — will determine if he appears on the August 11 ballot.

Sources: WPR, “Minocqua Brewing’s Bangstad not on the ballot for governor — yet,” June 3, 2026 — https://www.wpr.org/news/minocqua-brewing-kirk-bangstad-ballot-governor | WisPolitics, “Bangstad fails to meet signature threshold after listing wrong date of election,” June 3, 2026 — https://www.wispolitics.com/2026/bangstad-fails-to-meet-signature-threshold-after-listing-wrong-date-of-election/ | WBAY, “Wisconsin governor’s race takes shape as candidates file for ballot,” June 3, 2026 — https://www.wbay.com/2026/06/03/wisconsin-governors-race-takes-shape-candidates-file-ballot/ | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Wausau Pilot & Review, June 3, 2026 — https://wausaupilotandreview.com/2026/06/03/minocqua-brewings-kirk-bangstad-fails-to-qualify-for-governors-race/