Maryland Gov. Wes Moore Campaigns for Crowley in Wisconsin

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks in support of Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley’s campaign for Wisconsin governor Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at New Zion Baptist Church in Beloit, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is up for reelection this fall. On Friday, though, he was hundreds of miles away from the east coast, campaigning for David Crowley in Wisconsin.

Moore is making four stops in Wisconsin, urging voters to get to the polls for Crowley this November. Crowley, a Democrat, is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in the race for governor.

Moore spoke to Crowley supporters gathered at the Racine County Democratic Party office Friday morning. During a nearly 20-minute speech, he said Crowley would work to fight back against Trump administration policies.

“This moment matters because we know what is on the line, and we know the power of governors,” Moore said. “We know that governors have a unique responsibility, not just to push back, but governors have a unique responsibility to push forward, to show what a positive alternative can actually look like.”

Moore, who is also the chair of the National Governors Association, said Crowley has “devoted his entire life to public service.”

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore was at a David Crowley campaign event in Racine on Oct. 9, 2026. Evan Casey/WPR

Moore took office in 2022 and is one of only three Black governors to be elected by voters in the 250-year history of the United States. Crowley is the first Black person to be elected Milwaukee County Executive. Now he’s vying to be Wisconsin’s first Black governor.

Moore said voters in Wisconsin have a “historic opportunity” to elect Crowley. He called the fact that he’s only the third Black person ever elected as governor a “staggering statistic.”

“But I also know that I have the same philosophy that David has — that making history is not the assignment,” Moore said. “He’ll make history, but the goal is to make child poverty history. The goal is to make economic inequality history. The goal is to make these attacks that are happening on working families right now, and the fact that everything is … becoming more expensive because of federal policies — the goal is to make that history.”

The visit comes the same week that former President Barack Obama endorsed Crowley for governor. Obama, the first Black president of the United States, said Crowley “will fight to make Wisconsin more affordable.”

Crowley gave a short speech in Racine Friday morning, mentioning Obama’s endorsement. He urged supporters to keep knocking on doors in the final weeks ahead of the election.

“And so, in the spirit of President Obama, I don’t know about you, but I am fired up and I am ready to go, y’all,” Crowley said.

Moore also made stops in Kenosha and Beloit on Friday afternoon, with plans to speak at an event in Milwaukee Friday night. Beloit’s stop was labeled a “Black Men Vote Event.”

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley shakes hands with attendees during a campaign event Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at New Zion Baptist Church in Beloit, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

Crowley is narrowly leading Tiffany among likely voters, according to the latest Marquette University Law School poll.

In response to Moore campaigning in Wisconsin, Tiffany pointed to his record as governor of Maryland.

“Last year, Wes Moore passed the largest tax-and-fee increase in Maryland history, raising taxes and fees by $1.6 billion,” Tiffany said in a statement. “So, it’s no surprise David Crowley is campaigning alongside him.”

Tiffany’s statement said Crowley has raised taxes in Milwaukee County.

“Now he wants to bring that same tax-and-spend agenda to all of Wisconsin,” Tiffany said.

Tiffany will be joined by former Packers quarterback Brett Favre and Hunter Nation founder and CEO Keith Mark at a “Hunter Nation’s Sportsmen’s Rally” in Waukesha on Tuesday.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore takes to campaign trail for Crowley in Wisconsin was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.