Democrat David Crowley wins election for governor in Wisconsin

Democratic candidate David Crowley secured victory in Wisconsin's gubernatorial election, according to CBS News projections. He emerged triumphant over Republican Representative Tom Tiffany, marking a significant win in a state known for its political diversity. Incumbent Democratic Governor Tony Evers was ineligible to run again due to term limits.

Crowley, who serves as Milwaukee County executive, effectively linked Tiffany to President Trump, who enjoys a 60% disapproval rating in Wisconsin, as indicated by a September poll from Marquette University Law School. Crowley also criticized Tiffany's House vote against certifying the 2020 election results and his collaboration with Trump on tariffs and the Iran conflict.

Despite being a long-time ally of Trump, Tiffany attempted to portray Crowley as a socialist, particularly after the contentious Democratic primary. Tiffany, representing a predominantly Republican Northern Wisconsin district since 2020, focused his campaign on local issues. Trump's last campaign visit to the state was in June. Crowley won the August 11 primary by a narrow margin of 4,000 votes, narrowly edging out Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong.

The Democratic primary initially featured four candidates: Crowley, Hong, former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, and Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez. The race shifted in July when Crowley supported Rodriguez, a more establishment candidate. However, Rodriguez withdrew from the race shortly after, revealing that her campaign funds were insufficient.

Barnes, who had achieved a surprising victory in the 2022 Senate primary as a progressive candidate and served as the state's first Black lieutenant governor in 2018, withdrew his candidacy on July 30, less than two weeks before the primary. He cited the apparent inevitability of Crowley's victory, pointing to Hong's status as the frontrunner.

Barnes also announced his allegations of inappropriate behavior involving young adult women while in a position of party leadership, which he denies and has not been charged with any crimes. Tiffany faced minimal opposition in the Republican primary, allowing him ample time to campaign before the general election. Wisconsin serves as a pivotal battleground state, with Trump narrowly winning the state by less than one percentage point in 2024.

It is one of only two states with a split in its congressional delegation, featuring one Democratic senator and one Republican senator, while Maine has a Republican senator and an independent who aligns with the Democratic party.