Wisconsin Governor Candidates Clash on Abortion, Taxes, and Immigration
Republican Tom Tiffany and Democrat David Crowley debated key issues in a tight race less than two weeks before Election Day.
Republican Tom Tiffany and Democrat David Crowley, candidates for Wisconsin governor, engaged in a heated debate Wednesday night, clashing over abortion policy, the state's budget surplus, immigration enforcement, and the burgeoning data center industry.
The debate, hosted by WISN and held less than two weeks before Election Day, comes as polls show a tight race. A September Marquette Law School poll indicated Crowley leading Tiffany 49% to 46% among likely voters, a margin within the survey's margin of error. RealClearPolitics has classified the race as a toss-up.
Abortion Stance
Abortion emerged as a significant point of contention. Tiffany stated he would uphold Wisconsin's existing 20-week abortion limit, referencing a previous vote for a five-month ban and assuring women, "you will not have to hold your breath when I'm governor." Crowley, however, declined to specify a gestational limit for legal abortions, stating such decisions should be made between a doctor and a patient. Tiffany accused Crowley of supporting abortion up to nine months, while Crowley countered that late-term abortions typically occur under extreme circumstances and criticized Tiffany's past support for stricter abortion legislation.
State Surplus and Taxes
The candidates presented opposing views on how to utilize Wisconsin's projected $3 billion budget surplus. Tiffany proposed returning the entire surplus to taxpayers through permanent tax cuts, including a 10% reduction for middle-income earners, arguing that individuals have overpaid state taxes and need predictability for financial planning. Crowley advocated for using the surplus to lower costs for families through property tax relief and investments in public schools, child care, and health care. He argued Tiffany's plan would insufficiently fund essential services.
Immigration and ICE Cooperation
On immigration, Tiffany pledged to mandate that Wisconsin sheriffs honor federal immigration detainers, ensuring cooperation with federal authorities for individuals accused of crimes. Crowley expressed opposition to a blanket mandate but agreed that immigrants convicted of crimes should be deported. He also called for restrictions on ICE operations within Wisconsin, including ending contracts with local law enforcement and requiring judicial warrants for jail entries, emphasizing the protection of civil liberties.
Data Centers and Economic Development
The rapid growth of data centers in Wisconsin also became a debate topic. Both candidates stated opposition to taxpayer subsidies for these projects. Tiffany outlined conditions for future data center development, including protections against increased utility rates, bans on subsidies, local control, farmland preservation, and greater transparency. Crowley supported the current pause on data center development pending environmental review and called for increased reliance on renewable energy. He also indicated he would sign legislation to eliminate sales tax incentives for data centers.
Political Affiliations
Crowley faced questions regarding his ties to the Democratic Party's left wing following his narrow primary victory over democratic socialist Francesca Hong. When asked about shared priorities with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Crowley listed expanding BadgerCare, funding public education and child care, and holding wealthy Americans accountable. However, he stated he was "not familiar with the DSA platform" when pressed on specific platform elements. Tiffany used this response to characterize Crowley as a socialist, referencing Crowley's earlier comment that little separated him from Hong during the primary.