September 2nd, 2026 Len’s Political Note #836 David Crowley Wisconsin Governor
2026 General Election
So far in 2026, Democrats have demonstrated they are nimble and unified. While Ohio Republican Max Miller is still running for reelection to Congress despite credible accusations that he abused several women including his wife (who is the daughter of a US Senator from Ohio no less), Maine Democrats persuaded their scandal ridden Senate nominee to withdraw. Then those Democrats developed an orderly and public process for replacing the nominee. Troy Jackson showed everyone his organizational abilities and won the nomination.
While Donald Trump is still litigating his loss in the 2020 Presidential election, Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens was prompt and generous expressing support for Abdul El-Sayed who defeated her in the primary for the US Senate. Similarly, after his primary loss in Florida, whistleblower Alexander Vindman urged support for the activist Democrat, Angie Nixon, who defeated him. Vindman committed his substantial war chest to Florida Democrats.
In Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley demonstrated his nimbleness while we all have received a lesson in the uncertainty of politics as he obtained the Democratic nomination for Governor.
Republicans had been working to prop up State Assemblywoman Francesca Hong whose affiliation with the Democratic Socialists and comments of her youth (suggesting the abolition of Thanksgiving Day for instance) made her appear to be the least formidable opponent. Nevertheless, Hong gradually became the front runner. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley withdrew from the race saying he was far enough behind several major candidates that there was no viable route for hm to victory. Former Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes withdrew after anonymous and unconfirmed complaints were made about sexual improprieties, eroding his position when he was already well behind. Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez withdrew after her campaign manager’s financial mismanagement embarrassed the campaign and diminished the Lt. Governor’s reputation for effective management.
The withdrawals left Hong as the only serious candidate, Governor Tony Evers turned to David Crowley and urged him to get back into the race. Evers thought David Crowley now had a route to victory in the primary and the probability of a victory in the general election. David Crowley returned to the campaign and won the primary by a half point. In the days before the primary election, he and Francesca Hong agreed that the main goal was to deny Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany election in November.
If elected, David Crowley will be a worthy successor to his advocate, former School Superintendent and former state Superintendent of Public Instruction Governor Tony Evers. Evers was patient enough and skillful enough to support gradual change in redistricting as the state legislature conformed to the State Supreme Court requirement for change. Evers’ approach created a likelihood of Democratic control of the House and Senate by the 2026 election with little or no backlash against the redistricting.
David Crowley was born and raised in Milwaukee to parents whose substance addiction left them so distracted and so financially strapped that they lost their home and were evicted at least twice more from other residences. While his parents lost home after home and lost their marriage to divorce, David Crowley never lost his sense of himself. He graduated from high school and enrolled in the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Politics was the distraction that delayed him from finishing his degree, a degree he completed as an adult and a successful politician. In 2010, in his early twenties, he joined Russ Feingold’s campaign for reelection to the US Senate. Feingold lost the race. David Crowley found his profession. David Crowley got a job as an aide to County Supervisor Nikiya Harris Dodd. When she was elected to the State Senate in 2012, David Crowley continued working for her in Madison.
In February, 2016, David Crowley came in third in a run for the Milwaukee City council. Later that year, he won the primary for the open seat for Assembly District 17. In this overwhelmingly Democratic district, he had no opposition in the general election. David Crowley would work in Madison for a little longer, now as an elected official.
David Crowley was easily reelected in 2018. In 2020, he focused on a run for Milwaukee County executive. The outgoing County Executive, Chris Abele, was an ally. He was the wealthy businessman son of the founder of the medical technology firm Boston Scientific. Abele’s two-terms were a struggle. He contended with the double whammy of Republican Governor Scott Walker’s strangulation of public services and the first year of the pandemic.
Abele would not run for reelection, but supported David Crowley whose principal opponent had been a City Councilor who fought Abele. David Crowley came in second to the Abele nemesis in the first round of the non-partisan election. The run off was close; David Crowley won by 1,026 votes.
As County Executive, David Crowley looked for allies to help deal with Milwaukee County’s financial and pandemic crisis. Those allies included the recently elected Governor Tony Evers and the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. The upshot solution included a .4 percent increase in the County sales tax. The County received $11 million in opioid settlement funds which were distributed to various county programs. Among the innovations were vending machines that distributed fentanyl test strips and naloxone which reversed the deadly effect of fentanyl. David Crowley worked on housing affordability which included a goal to provide legal counsel for anyone facing eviction. He signed a climate action plan committing the county to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The day after Tony Evers announced he would not run for reelection, David Crowley got in line for the position. He raised money, but did not get the traction he needed to compete. When Tony Evers encouraged David Crowley to return to the race, the political world had changed. David Crowley’s entrance created a two-person race, one where he could gain just enough traction.
When Republican nominee Tom Tiffany was a state legislator, he supported mining and logging without restraint and was proud to be an enemy of the Wisconsin League of Conservation voters. He described Barack Obama’s EPA as radical. Tiffany supported Trump’s effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election and supports continued efforts to re-re-examine that election. In Congress, Tiffany has been a supporter of Trump’s tariffs. Although, he voted to support disclosure of the Epstein files, he has denounced Democratic efforts to actually obtain disclosure of the files.
Polls in July and August show David Crowley leading Tom Tiffany by 3, 3, 3, and 4 points. Polls are suspect, of course, especially in the state where Francesca Hong was leading the primary by 20. Money is another measure. Tom Tiffany has raised $8 million and had $5 million in available cash in early August. If David Crowley had $1 million available after the intense primary, it would be a lot. David Crowley needs some help. DONATE. If elected, he would be Wisconsin’s first Black Governor.
What governor’s do has an effect on our lives. Let’s elect as many Democratic governors as we can. See tomorrow’s supplement
