Key facts
- David Crowley has reentered the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor.
- Outgoing Governor Tony Evers has endorsed Crowley.
- Crowley aims to build a broad coalition and appeal to moderate voters.
- Crowley previously withdrew his candidacy to support Sara Rodriguez.
- Rodriguez abandoned her campaign due to financial discrepancies.
- Crowley will face Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in the general election if he wins the primary.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has reentered the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, securing a significant endorsement from outgoing Governor Tony Evers. This move comes after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez exited the race due to campaign finance issues. Crowley, who previously withdrew his bid to support Rodriguez, is now positioning himself to unify the party and appeal to a broad coalition of voters in the crucial swing state.
Evers, who initially withheld an endorsement, publicly backed Crowley, emphasizing his executive experience in job creation and budget management. Crowley stated that his campaign would be more aggressive in the closing weeks, leveraging Evers' support and an energized volunteer base. He aims to build the broadest possible coalition to win the August 11 primary and then challenge Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in the general election.
Crowley's political background includes serving in the state Assembly and as the first Black executive of Milwaukee County. His reemergence into a competitive primary, which also features candidates like Francesca Hong, Mandela Barnes, Kelda Roys, and Joel Brennan, is seen as a critical turn for Democrats seeking to gain full control of Wisconsin state government for the first time since 2010.
Republican figures, including Rep. Tom Tiffany and the Republican Governors Association, have criticized the Democratic primary's disarray. Tiffany portrayed Crowley as ineffective and the Democrats' last resort against a "socialist" candidate, while the RGA likened the situation to a "clown car crash."