Wisconsin Governor’s Race: David Crowley vs. Tom Tiffany

David Crowley secured a narrow victory in the Wisconsin primary, setting the stage for a gubernatorial race against Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany. Tiffany has consistently aligned with former President Donald Trump, a point which Crowley aims to emphasize as he appeals to moderate Democrats. Crowley’s opponent in the primary, Francesca Hong, was widely expected to win, making Crowley’s win unexpected for many observers.

Crowley will face Tiffany, a known Trump supporter, in the upcoming election. Crowley’s experience as Milwaukee County executive, where he worked constructively with Republicans, shapes his approach to the upcoming race. After the primary, Crowley focused on unifying Democrats, including Hong’s supporters, to concentrate on countering Tiffany’s ties to Trump.

“This isn’t establishment versus progressive. This isn’t insider versus outsider,” Crowley stated. “This is Democrats defeating a MAGA extremist in Congressman Tom Tiffany.”

Tiffany will need to redirect his campaign message away from Trump to focus on the issues most pertinent to Wisconsinites. Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker emphasized that Tiffany should steer discussions away from federal issues and focus on state governance. However, others believe Crowley’s candidacy will increase focus on state-level concerns like affordability and healthcare.

Given Wisconsin’s recent record of close elections, including Trump’s narrow wins and losses, Crowley’s margin of victory in the primary further highlights this trend. Democrats anticipate using Trump’s low approval ratings in the state to win the governorship and potentially gain legislative control.

Tiffany began his campaign linking Crowley to Hong, claiming no significant policy differences existed between the two Democrats. Retaining young voters who favored Hong poses a challenge for Crowley, according to Republican strategist Rusty Schultz.

Crowley’s path to the nomination was fraught with difficulty. His background includes growing up in poverty with family struggles related to substance abuse and mental health. Elected to the state Assembly in 2016, Crowley became Milwaukee County executive in 2023, working with Republicans to secure state aid. Despite initially suspending his campaign, he re-entered the race thanks to support from Democratic Governor Tony Evers.

At a unity event, Crowley joined figures like U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin in efforts to consolidate Democratic support statewide. Evers’ involvement was instrumental, even as he prepares to step down, highlighting the need for a strong candidate to maintain Democratic leadership.

Crowley is poised to make history as the first Black nominee for Wisconsin governor and potentially the state’s first Black governor. Yet, Crowley remains focused on the task ahead, ensuring he lays a foundation for future leaders.

“This historic moment is not lost on me. But I’m not even thinking about that because we’ve still got work to do,” Crowley said. “The job is not done.”