Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on Tuesday launched a campaign for Wisconsin governor, positioned as a candidate whose upbringing and local government experience inform his priorities on affordability, health care, housing and public education.
Crowley, 39, is one of the highest-profile Democrats to enter the open 2026 contest to replace Gov. Tony Evers, who announced he will not seek a third term. His entry puts him alongside Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez as prominent early contenders for a seat Democrats hope to hold as they also pursue control of the divided state Legislature. The August 2026 primary will determine each party’s nominee.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Crowley said he wants to be a “governor for all of us,” stressing policies aimed at lowering costs for families, expanding access to affordable health care and housing, and fully funding public schools. In a campaign launch video, he framed his bid as a response to national politics, saying former President Donald Trump’s “chaos and cruelty means that the Wisconsin that we cherish will perish unless we unite and fight back.” Rodriguez, who announced her campaign earlier, has also assailed Trump, calling him a “maniac” in her own launch materials.
Crowley’s personal story is central to his campaign. He grew up in Milwaukee’s 53206 ZIP code, a neighborhood a 2013 University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee study identified as the nation’s most incarcerated ZIP code. Crowley’s launch video recounts periods of family homelessness and economic hardship; he later became a community organizer and was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 2016 at age 30. He resigned from the Legislature in 2020 after winning election as Milwaukee County Executive, becoming the county’s first Black and youngest executive at 33. While serving as county executive, he completed a college degree at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, graduating in December.
Crowley faces a potentially crowded Democratic field. Other potential candidates include state Sen. Kelda Roys, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, and Attorney General Josh Kaul. Democrats said they aim to retain the governor’s office while pursuing legislative gains in a state that has been politically competitive in recent election cycles.
On the Republican side, Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann and businessman Bill Berrien are the only announced candidates so far. Several other Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and state Senate President Mary Felzkowski, are reportedly weighing bids; Tiffany has indicated he will make an announcement later this month, and Felzkowski has said she would bow out if Tiffany runs but has not ruled out a run if he declines.
As county executive, Crowley has overseen the state’s most populous county and highlighted his experience delivering local services and managing budgets as qualifications for statewide office. His campaign emphasizes connection to working-class voters in Milwaukee and beyond, while seeking to appeal to the broader statewide Democratic coalition.
Political strategists note the open-seat dynamic makes the 2026 race particularly competitive: Wisconsin has not held a gubernatorial contest without an incumbent on the ballot since 2010. The contest will test whether Democrats can maintain control of the governor’s office amid a national environment in which both parties view Wisconsin as a closely watched battleground.
Crowley’s entry formalizes a Democratic primary whose outcome will shape the party’s strategy heading into a midterm election year and could influence control of state government. He and other candidates are expected to continue defining contrasts on policy and electability as the August 2026 primary approaches.