Crowley Wins Wisconsin Gubernatorial Race Against Tiffany

David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, won the Wisconsin gubernatorial election on November 3, 2026. The Associated Press called the race for Crowley, marking a historic victory as the state's first Black governor. His opponent was Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany.

Crowley's campaign centered on lowering costs for working families and increasing job opportunities in Wisconsin. He secured endorsements from outgoing Democratic Governor Tony Evers and former President Barack Obama. These backing efforts helped mobilize Democratic voters after Crowley narrowly defeated Francesca Hong in the August primary. The primary season was marked by turbulence, as Crowley briefly dropped out to endorse Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez before re-entering the race after her withdrawal.

Tiffany held a substantial fundraising advantage in the general election. Three billionaire donors provided millions to his campaign. He also received endorsements from President Donald Trump, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, and former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. Despite this financial and political support, Tiffany was unable to secure a majority of the vote.

Crowley positioned himself as a deal-maker capable of working across party lines. He collaborated with Evers and legislative Republicans to pass a bipartisan bill allowing the city and county of Milwaukee to raise sales tax rates. Evers noted that Crowley played a major role in negotiating a $500 million agreement to upgrade the Milwaukee Brewers' stadium and keep the team in the city through 2050.

Campaign advertisements for Crowley highlighted President Trump's unpopularity and linked Tiffany to the former president's agenda. One ad argued that Tiffany's votes resulted in higher costs and suggested that Tiffany as governor would lead to income tax cuts for his billionaire donors. The ad stated, "Wisconsin's not for sale, but Tom Tiffany is, and it'll cost ya."

Crowley, 40, made defending Medicaid funding and preserving affordable housing central parts of his platform. He discussed his personal history of growing up in poverty with parents who battled substance abuse and mental health issues during the crack-cocaine epidemic. He credited education and community organizing with helping him enter the Wisconsin legislature and eventually the county executive's office.

At a campaign stop at the Walworth County Fair, Crowley addressed the historic nature of his victory. "But I'm running to be a governor for all of us," he said. "And it doesn't matter what zipcodes you live in, who you love, or where you come from. I want to make sure that we can move our entire state forward."