Crowley Unseats Trump Ally Tiffany in Tight Wisconsin Governor Race

David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, defeated Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany for governor of Wisconsin, according to projections released on Monday. The result ends the tenure of two-term incumbent Gov. Tony Evers, who was barred from seeking a third term by state law. Crowley’s victory secures control of the statehouse for the Democratic Party in one of the nation’s most competitive states.

Crowley’s campaign centered on linking Tiffany to President Donald Trump, whose disapproval rating in Wisconsin reached 60 percent in a September poll conducted by Marquette University Law School. The Milwaukee County executive also targeted Tiffany’s 2020 House vote against certifying the election results and his support for Trump’s legislative and foreign policy initiatives, including tariffs and the Iran war. Crowley positioned himself as a moderate alternative to both the incumbent administration and the presidential party.

Tiffany, who has represented a safely Republican district in northern Wisconsin since 2020, attempted to frame Crowley as a socialist during the general election. The representative focused his messaging on local issues rather than national politics, noting that President Trump last campaigned in the state in June. Tiffany faced little opposition in the Republican primary, allowing him more time to focus on the general election race.

The Democratic primary process in August proved volatile. Crowley initially won the August 11 primary by a margin of 4,000 votes over Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist. The field had included four major candidates before former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out. Rodriguez exited the race days after withdrawing her initial support for Crowley due to lower campaign funds than expected. Barnes announced his withdrawal on July 30, citing the clear frontrunner status of Hong while an investigation into personal allegations was underway.

Crowley, who had briefly suspended his campaign in July, stated during a debate that he returned to the race after determining that initial polling data was false. He described his strategy as returning to the trail as a centrist Democrat in a field that otherwise featured more progressive options. The final result reflects a state where President Trump won the 2024 presidential election by less than one point.

Wisconsin remains one of only two states with a split Senate, holding one Democratic and one Republican seat. The other such state, Maine, has a Republican senator and an independent who caucuses with Democrats. The governor’s office will see a change in leadership as Crowley prepares to take over the duties previously held by Evers.