Crowley Makes Final Pitch to Voters Ahead of Primary Election

County Executive David Crowley, joined by Gov. Tony Evers and U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, campaign in Milwaukee Monday, Aug. 10. Photo taken by Graham Kilmer.

On the eve of the primary election, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley campaigned in four cities with Gov. Tony Evers, making a final pitch to Democratic voters that he was the right person for the job.

After visiting Oshkosh, Stevens Point and Madison, Crowley was welcomed back to Milwaukee by a room of supporters at The Cooperage, 822 S. Water St. Before he took the stage, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Common Council President José G. Pérez and Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson Bovell all stumped for Crowley.

After launching his campaign for governor, dropping out of the race, then jumping back in with an endorsement from Evers, Crowley has spent recent days making joint appearances with the sitting governor. Since getting back in the race, his poll numbers have improved, but he goes into the primary Tuesday trailing state Rep. Francesca Hong, who has led the field of Democratic candidates for months.

Crowley and the elected officials supporting him Tuesday focused their attacks on Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany. Evers urged voters to ignore polling, saying, “I never believe much in polls and I still don’t.”

In a brief speech Monday night, Crowley made his case one more time, emphasizing his executive experience and the successes he has notched as county executive, including negotiating with Republicans in the Legislature for increased state funding for local government, building affordable housing and maintaining the lowest homeless count per capita in the entire country.

“I don’t just talk about solving problems. I have a record of getting things done,” Crowley said.

He also pledged to govern as a uniter for all of Wisconsin. “We need a governor who will build for every single community, urban, rural, suburban communities alike,” he said.

For his part, Evers said Crowley  is “the best chance we have at beating Tom Tiffany and that is period.” The governor said “everything is at stake” in the upcoming election, explaining that Democrats have worked for more than a decade to undo the partisan gerrymander that locked in Republican control of the legislature, electing liberal state Supreme Court justices and passing new legislative maps. Tiffany and Republicans stand to undo all of that, the governor said.

“Listen, I don’t say this lightly, but if he is elected, Tom Tiffany will be the worst governor in the history of the state of Wisconsin,” Evers said. “No joke, and that’s saying something, folks, because I’m old enough to remember having Scott Walker.”

Moore also attacked Tiffany, calling him “uber MAGA” and slamming him for voting to overturn the 2020 presidential election after insurrectionists stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

After re-entering the race with an endorsement from Evers, Crowley has been labeled an establishment candidate by opponents. Moore took this on in her speech Tuesday, pointing out Crowley grew up in the 53206 ZIP code, known for one of the highest rates of incarceration and concentrated poverty in the country, and had parents who struggled with drug addiction.

“So I’m so grateful that the best governor ever, Tony Evers, decided to not sit on the sideline,” Moore said. “He put his stamp because he’s the man that has done the job. He knows what it takes to be the governor of a state.”

Nicholson praised Crowley as a leader who understands and considers the impacts policy decisions have on constituents. Pérez said Crowley has proven his ability to collaborate with other elected officials.

Crowley’s counterpart in city government, Mayor Johnson, said Crowley is the candidate who can “thread the needle” in the general election. “It’s one thing to win a primary. It’s a whole other beast to win a general election,” Johnson said. “Our future is on the line right now.”