Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has announced his endorsement of Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley in the state’s Democratic primary for governor — a surprise move that comes just one day after the race was dramatically reshuffled by a rival candidate’s exit.
At a formal event planned for Saturday, Crowley was set to deliver remarks — provided in advance to The Associated Press — stating that Evers’ backing “reflects his confidence that I have the experience, the judgment, and the record to build the coalition we need, defeat Tom Tiffany, and lead effectively from the very first day in office.”
The 40-year-old Crowley is jumping back into a wide-open primary that was thrown into turmoil Friday when Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez announced she was ending her campaign. Rodriguez cited a campaign finance scandal, having fired her campaign manager earlier in the week after learning her campaign had hundreds of thousands of dollars less money available than anticipated.
Crowley had actually paused his own campaign two weeks ago to throw his support behind Rodriguez. Now he’s back in the race, competing against democratic socialist Francesca Hong, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, state Sen. Kelda Roys, and Joel Brennan, a former top aide to Evers. If elected, Crowley would make history as Wisconsin’s first Black governor.
Evers, a Democrat who chose not to seek a third term, had previously pledged to stay out of the primary — a position he had maintained throughout his eight years in office. By endorsing Crowley, he is passing over both his current and former lieutenant governors, each of whom has won statewide elections, in favor of someone who has never run a statewide race.
Evers was not expected to appear at Saturday’s event, as he is currently on a trade-related trip to Africa.
Crowley’s political story is one of personal perseverance. During the first phase of his campaign, he highlighted how his family once experienced homelessness in Milwaukee. He went on to become a community organizer and won a seat in the state Assembly in 2016 at just 30 years old. In mid-2020, he was elected as executive of Milwaukee County — the state’s most populous county — becoming both the first Black person and the youngest individual, at age 33, to hold that position.
Wisconsin’s Democratic primary is scheduled for August 11. Democrats are hoping not only to retain the governor’s office but also to flip control of the state Legislature, which Republicans have held since 2011. The Democratic nominee will face Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in the general election, with Tiffany encountering only minimal opposition in his own primary.
