David Crowley Drops Out of Race for Governor
'It has become clear I will not be the Democratic nominee for governor,' county exec says.
County Executive David Crowley. Photo by Sophie Bolich.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley dropped out of the race for governor Wednesday.
“It has become clear that I will not be the Democratic nominee for governor, so today I am stepping out of this race, but I am not stepping away from the work,” Crowley said in a statement. “Politics should not be about who talks the loudest. It’s about showing up, working with anyone who wants to solve the problem, and delivering results people can see in their own communities. That’s how I’ve governed in Milwaukee County, and that’s how I’ll keep governing.”
With just over a month to the primary election, Crowley has consistently trailed front-runners such as state Rep. Francesca Hong and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes in polling. He’s the second candidate to drop out of the crowded race for the Democratic nomination. In June, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Secretary Missy Hughes bowed out and endorsed Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez.
Crowley launched his campaign in September last year while serving his second term as Milwaukee County executive. He has held public office since 2017, after his election to the Wisconsin State Assembly. He ran for county executive in 2020 and defeated state Sen. Chris Larson to become the first Black person elected Milwaukee County executive.
Crowley campaigned on his experience as county executive and the only candidate with executive experience in elected office.
“Serving as County Executive is the privilege of my life,” Crowley said. “I will keep showing up for the people of Milwaukee County the same way I have every day since they first put their trust in me.”
Following Crowley’s withdrawal, the remaining candidates on the Democratic side include Hong, Barnes, Rodriguez, State Sen. Kelda Roys and Joel Brennan.
Crowley said the next governor needs to focus on affordability and expanding opportunity for state residents. He also pledged to help whoever the candidate is defeat U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany.
“The most important thing now is for Democrats to come together and defeat Tom Tiffany in November. Tiffany’s record in Washington does not reflect Wisconsin’s values, and the people of this state deserve a governor who will fight for working families, protect our natural resources, invest in our communities, and be beholden to the people of our state, not Donald Trump. While I will not be the candidate, I will still do everything in my power to ensure that we win in November.”
Crowley offered no endorsement of any of the five remaining Democrats in the race. Given that both Crowley and Brennan are based in Milwaukee and have courted the business community here, Crowley’s withdrawal could help Brennan. Barnes might also stand to gain from Crowley’s departure, as a similarly aged Black candidate from Milwaukee with a historical base of support in the city.
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This is very good news. He needs to stay home and concentrate on the county’s problems.
Yep. Good guy, strong future and doing the right things. But there is a lot of work still to be done in MKE CO, and he made the right call by sticking to that job vs having a foot in each area.
Brennan and Roys should do the same, but I don’t see Kelda bowing out (ego).