Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley is set to become Wisconsin’s first Black governor after the Associated Press called the race for him, with household costs and job creation central to his campaign, NPR reported.
Crowley, 40, defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany on Nov. 3. NPR reported Tiffany’s campaign spent far more than Crowley’s, with three billionaire donors contributing millions to Tiffany’s effort. Tiffany was also endorsed by President Donald Trump, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. Crowley campaigned on easing pressure on household budgets and expanding job opportunities in the state, while making Medicaid funding and affordable housing priorities.
NPR reported that ads promoting Crowley tied Tiffany’s votes for Trump’s agenda to rising costs. Crowley argued a Tiffany administration would lead to income-tax cuts benefiting Tiffany’s billionaire donors.
Crowley pointed to work across party lines. NPR reported that he joined Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican lawmakers in backing a bipartisan proposal that would let Milwaukee’s city and county governments increase sales-tax rates to bring in more revenue. Evers said Crowley played a substantial role in negotiations over a $500 million stadium upgrade intended to keep the Milwaukee Brewers in Milwaukee through 2050.
Crowley had endorsements from Evers and former President Barack Obama. He narrowly defeated democratic socialist Francesca Hong in August’s Democratic primary, NPR reported. Politico had reported a Wedgewood survey showed Hong ahead, which EconoTimes covered in an earlier story.
NPR also reported that Crowley has spoken about growing up in poverty with working-class parents who faced substance-abuse and mental-health challenges during the crack-cocaine epidemic. He said education and community-organizing work helped him move beyond those hardships. Crowley told attendees at the Walworth County Fair, “I’m running to be a governor for all of us.”
