Establishment Democrat David Crowley Squeaks by in Primary, Faces Pro-Trump Conservative Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin Governor Race
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Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley barely edged out far-left Francesca Hong in the Democratic primary and will now take on Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, a steadfast Trump ally, in the Wisconsin governor's race.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated state Assembly member Francesca Hong by less than half a point in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, securing the party’s nomination for Wisconsin governor. Despite polls showing Hong, a radical progressive, as the favorite, Crowley’s establishment-backed win sets up a showdown with Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, a principled conservative who has consistently supported President Donald Trump’s America First agenda.
Crowley, known for his attempts at so-called bipartisan cooperation in Milwaukee, claimed his campaign would unite progressives and moderates to defeat what he labeled a “MAGA extremist.” He made it clear that his campaign will focus on attacking Tiffany’s support for Trump and the Make America Great Again movement, despite the movement’s broad appeal to working-class Americans and its focus on restoring American greatness.
Former Republican Governor Scott Walker pointed out that Tiffany may need to distance himself from Trump’s policies to appeal to swing voters, while former state Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz argued that Crowley’s win means the campaign will now be forced to address real issues like affordability, foreign policy challenges in Iran, and rising health-care costs—problems that have only worsened under Democratic leadership.
Wisconsin’s elections have been notoriously close, with Trump winning the state by razor-thin margins in 2016 and 2024 and losing by a similarly small margin in 2020. Crowley’s narrow primary victory is just the latest example of how divided the state remains.
Democrats are hoping to exploit Trump’s supposed declining approval ratings to keep the governor’s office and seize control of the legislature, aiming for a left-wing trifecta that could push Wisconsin further down the path of high taxes and bloated government, as seen before 2010.
Tiffany responded by rightly linking Crowley to Hong, warning that Crowley’s record in Milwaukee County would mean higher taxes and more government waste. Republican strategist Rusty Schultz cautioned that Democrats will struggle to rally the young, radical voters who supported Hong in the primary.
Crowley, 40, became the first Black candidate to win a major party’s nomination for Wisconsin governor. He had previously dropped out of the race in July, citing a lack of a path forward, but re-entered just ten days later after receiving the blessing of liberal Governor Tony Evers. Crowley insisted that his historic candidacy is secondary to his plans for more government intervention and progressive policies.