11 Claims About the Candidates for WI Governor — And the Facts

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, left, and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany face off in the race for Wisconsin governor. (Andy Manis for Wisconsin Watch and Zoey Elwood / Wisconsin Watch)

On Wednesday night, the candidates for Wisconsin governor will face off in their only debate ahead of the Nov. 3 election — and based on how the campaign has gone so far, a lot of claims and accusations will fly.

To help voters sort through the noise, Wisconsin Watch and our partners at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel have been fact-checking claims about the candidates.

Do you know whether Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, the Democratic nominee, supports releasing half of Wisconsin’s prison population, or whether homicides have increased 57% under his watch?

How about U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican nominee? Do you know whether he voted to defund the police or for a $68 billion tax break for data centers?

Before you watch the debate at 7 p.m. Wednesday on WISN.com, read on to know the facts.

And before you vote, check out our other Fact Briefs and our comprehensive voter guide too.

Claims about Crowley

Does David Crowley support releasing half of Wisconsin’s prison population?

No. Tiffany cited Crowley’s 2019 support for Gov. Tony Evers’ goal as support for his claim that Crowley “wants to let half the prison population out in Wisconsin.” Evers’ goal was aimed at gradually achieving the 50% reduction.

Did Milwaukee juvenile homicides increase 57% under David Crowley?

No. The number of juvenile homicide victims in Milwaukee County has ranged between 19 and 27 annually, with no clear trend upward or downward, since Crowley took office. Plus, most law enforcement in the county is done by city and village police departments; they are not under the control of the county executive.

Have major Milwaukee County taxes generally increased under David Crowley?

Yes. Milwaukee County sales and property taxes have increased while Crowley has been county executive, though property taxes have increased less than the statewide average.

Did David Crowley approve providing tablets to jail inmates?

Yes. Crowley gave final approval to a 2022 contract requested by the Sheriff’s Office and approved by the Board of Supervisors that provides communication tablets to inmates and approved a three-year extension in 2025.

Claims about Tiffany

Did Tom Tiffany receive more than 90% of his campaign donations from 3 billionaires since July 2026?

Yes. Of the $26 million from July to September 2026, 93% came from Diane Hendricks, Richard Uihlein and Elizabeth Uihlein.

Has Tom Tiffany supported defunding the police?

No. Crowley claimed Tiffany voted six times to defund the police. None of those House votes would have taken money away from law enforcement.

Has Tom Tiffany voted five times against ending the Iran war?

Yes. Against five U.S. House resolutions from March through July directing President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran.

Did Tom Tiffany vote to give data center operators a $68 billion tax break?

No. Congress did not vote up-or-down on giving data center operators a $68 billion tax break. An attack ad cited Tiffany’s vote for the Big Beautiful Bill Act. It contains business tax breaks, including 100% depreciation, but they are available broadly, including for data centers, to deduct the cost of many investments.

Has Tom Tiffany supported Donald Trump’s positions the vast majority of the time?

Yes. Various measures show Tiffany has rarely diverged from supporting Trump since Trump began his second term in January 2025.

Did Tom Tiffany try to overturn the 2020 presidential election result?

Yes. Tiffany took several steps in a failed attempt to reverse Democrat Joe Biden’s win over Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

Claim about both candidates

Have David Crowley and Tom Tiffany both expressed support for data centers?

Yes. Both have emphasized how they would regulate artificial intelligence data centers, but they also have spoken favorably of them. Crowley: Wisconsin can “become an AI and a data hub not only for the entire country, but for the entire globe.” Tiffany: Data centers are “exciting new technology.”

This article first appeared on Wisconsin Watch and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.