David Crowley could make Wisconsin history after a governor’s race full of twists
TheGrio...
After leaving and reentering the race, Crowley is seeking the Democratic nomination and a chance to become the state’s first Black governor.
The race for the Democratic nomination for governor of Wisconsin has emerged as one of the messiest and most chaotic races of the 2026 election primary season. On Tuesday, Wisconsin voters will determine the Democratic gubernatorial nominee after weeks of political drama.
The race’s top contenders are Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who is vying to become Wisconsin’s first Black governor, and Francesca Hong, a Democratic socialist state lawmaker and chef-bartender. If elected, she would become the state’s first female and first Asian-American governor.
Crowley, 37, touts his experience as a local executive and coalition-builder, telling theGrio he is the only candidate with a “resume of delivering results that’s longer than a CVS receipt,” which he says includes tackling tough, on-the-ground issues like homelessness, public infrastructure, and the opioid crisis.
All eyes will be on Tuesday’s Democratic gubernatorial primary as Hong attempts to add another win on the board for Democratic socialists, who have found success in recent mayoral and congressional races. Hong’s rise in polling has concerned her opponents in the race and Wisconsin Democrats who are deemed the “establishment”—a term Crowley has described as a “slur” against him.
On July 8, Crowley suspended his campaign; however, to voters’ surprise, he jumped back into the race days later after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out amid campaign finance reporting errors and a massive cash shortfall. At the time, Crowley was running against both Hong and another top Black candidate, former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. Even more interesting, Gov. Tony Evers, who worked alongside Barnes, endorsed Crowley over his former running mate. Things took yet another turn when Barnes unexpectedly dropped out weeks before the primary election.
Crowley’s re-entrance into the race is seen as the more centrist Wisconsin Democratic Party’s only shot at winning the party’s nomination and potentially holding onto the governorship in November. While he acknowledges how “messy” the Democratic primary has been, Crowley is taking it in stride.
“I know people will say that this primary has been a little messy. But let’s be honest, democracy is messy, right?” he told theGrio. “This is what the system looks like.”
Referring to his opponent, Francesca Hong, Crowley added, “It’s so messy that the Republican Governors Association is now spending money ($3.6 million) in this Democratic primary because they want to prop up the best candidate that they want to run against.”
The Milwaukee County executive says that regardless of party differences, the “ultimate goal” is to ensure that the Democratic nominee defeats the likely Republican nominee, U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany. Crowley said Democrats must also build a “winning coalition” to win majorities in the State Senate and State Assembly, so that “Democrats can be a lot more aggressive than we have been in the past.”
Crowley remains confident about his chances, citing the “big boost of momentum” from his endorsement by Governor Evers, as well as several mayors and labor unions across the state. The young Black Democrat also enjoys the home-court advantage as Milwaukee County executive in the state’s most populous city, which has a large Black population.
“They trust me to deliver, and they can not only see, they can feel the work that we have done here locally,” said Crowley, who still admits the primary battle won’t be a “cakewalk.”
As President Donald Trump sees record-low approval ratings, most especially on the economy, Democrats nationwide are hoping to capitalize on this in this year’s elections. However, as the affordability crisis grows, public polling shows more voters growing dissatisfied with both political parties.
“There’s a frustration with the Democratic Party, the fact that we haven’t put a vision and an agenda on the table,” said Crowley. He said he and Wisconsin Democrats have a “great opportunity” to “move our state forward” and “be a great example for the rest of the country, as far as how we win elections and how we push a Democratic agenda across the country.”
While some may consider Crowley as the “establishment” candidate, he makes clear he comes from no establishment, having grown up in the state’s poorest zip code with parents who battled addiction and mental health challenges.
“I wasn’t born into the establishment. I was born into struggle,” he told theGrio. “I was evicted three times before I graduated high school for at least 15 years of my life. I moved every single year, and if it weren’t for a youth development organization at the time called Urban Underground that saved my life when I was a junior in high school, you know, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Crowley went from AmeriCorps to organizing as a youth and, eventually, to working as a staffer at the Wisconsin State Capitol, including serving as chair of the Black Legislative Caucus, before entering elected office.
“Why I have this level of support, particularly grassroots support in the African American community, is because I’ve never forgotten who I am. I know the solid foundation that I stand on each and every single day,” he told theGrio. “I always make sure to bring others along, because this is about inspiring and empowering folks who have the capacity to continue to do more.”
Crowley believes his work leading Milwaukee’s 19 different municipalities, which he points out is a sixth of the entire state’s population right in his “backyard,” is a track record for how he nationalizes his successes on the local level.
“We’ve been able to tackle public health, tackle public safety, tackle fiscal recovery,” said Crowley, who described the current political moment as “loud,” “angry,” and “broken.”
“We need a governor who’s going to be steady, who’s going to be responsible, who’s going to be focused on getting the things done,” he told theGrio. “I know that there’s so much more that we could be doing for working families, making sure that we’re tackling the affordability crisis, lowering utility prices, housing prices, creating greater access to childcare and to healthcare.”
The gubernatorial candidate says, “the same issues facing urban centers are the same issues facing suburban and rural communities all across our state, all across this country, quite frankly.” He continued, “I have a track record of being able to bring Democrats and Republicans together, not just to benefit my community, but to benefit everyone in the state. And I want to be a governor for all of us.”