Milwaukee’s 4th Congressional District is heading for a political pileup this year, with five candidates on the ballot, including two Democrats, two Republicans and one independent. Voters will sort them out in contested primaries on Aug. 11, ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026 general election. The district covers most of the city of Milwaukee and several inner-ring suburbs, and its strong Democratic tilt means August could matter more than November when it comes to who lands in Washington.
Local ballot snapshot
The official candidate list filed with the Wisconsin Elections Commission features incumbent Rep. Gwen Moore alongside Amy Donahue (D), Purnima Nath (R), Tim Rogers (R) and independent Arthur Burks, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. As WUWM reports, the August vote will feature two contested primaries that set up the Nov. 3 general election.
Incumbent Gwen Moore
Rep. Gwen Moore, first elected in 2004 and serving the 4th District since 2005, is seeking another term, according to the Office of the Clerk. Her campaign highlights priorities such as improving economic and employment conditions in low-income communities and strengthening federal housing and nutrition programs, as outlined on Gwen Moore for Congress.
Challengers and their priorities
On the Democratic side, Amy Donahue is running as a progressive alternative who backs Medicare for All, a Green New Deal and higher taxes on the ultra-rich. Those positions are detailed on Amy Donahue for Congress, which notes her endorsement from the Wisconsin Electoral Socialists.
Republican Purnima Nath is campaigning on an all-of-the-above energy strategy, housing-supply reforms and incentives for domestic manufacturing, according to Purnima Nath. Fellow Republican Tim Rogers, a perennial candidate in the district, lists universal school choice, criminal justice reform, access to clean water and lower taxes as his key issues, per Rogers for Wisconsin.
Independent Arthur Burks is positioning himself as a grassroots option focused on local investment and comprehensive gun-safety measures, according to Burks 4 Congress.
What to watch in August
The 4th District has been solidly Democratic for decades, so the Democratic primary could effectively pick the next representative unless there is an unexpected political shift, a dynamic noted in local coverage. Organizing muscle, local endorsements and small-dollar grassroots fundraising in races like Donahue’s are already shaping the storylines candidates will lean on as they sprint toward the Aug. 11 ballot, according to WUWM.
Next steps for voters
Voters can review the official candidate list and ballot-access filings through the Wisconsin Elections Commission, and visit each campaign’s website for full policy platforms and event details. The Aug. 11 primary will narrow the field ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
