David Crowley elected governor of Wisconsin, defeating Tom Tiffany

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has been projected as the winner of Wisconsin’s governor’s race, defeating Republican Representative Tom Tiffany and maintaining Democratic control of the office in the swing state. Crowley becomes the first Black person to hold the governorship and, at 40, the youngest elected governor in the state in nearly a century. He succeeds two-term Governor Tony Evers, who assisted Crowley’s campaign after it was briefly suspended in July.

Crowley’s campaign emphasized an affordability agenda that seeks to lower household costs for childcare, health care and housing, largely through increased state spending. He highlighted his personal background, noting that he grew up in a low-income area of Milwaukee and experienced family homelessness and parental drug addiction. Prior to becoming county executive in 2020, Crowley served in the state Assembly and worked as a community organizer and political aide.

Republican candidate Tiffany, who represents a largely rural district in northern Wisconsin, faced a national political environment that was increasingly unfavorable to President Donald Trump, according to pre-election polling. Tiffany’s campaign criticized Crowley for property and sales-tax increases enacted while he was county executive and for statements supporting undocumented immigrants. His fundraising advantage stemmed largely from three billionaire donors.

In the final weeks of the campaign, Crowley received endorsements from several national Democratic figures, including former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Maryland Governor Wes Moore. The race was decided by a margin of fewer than 4,000 votes, with strong support for Crowley coming from Milwaukee County and Dane County, the two most populous and Democratic-leaning areas in the state.