The Capitol Report, produced by WisPolitics.com — a nonpartisan, Madison-based news service that specializes in coverage of government and politics — provides a weekly analysis of issues being debated in Wisconsin state government. It is underwritten by the WNA and produced exclusively for its members. WisPolitics.com President Jeff Mayers is a former editor and reporter for the Associated Press and a former political writer for the Wisconsin State Journal.
By WisPolitics-State Affairs
Dem Gov. Tony Evers, after months of saying he wouldn’t endorse a candidate to succeed him after two terms in the East Wing, did just that as moderate Democrats became alarmed that Francesca Hong, a liberal lawmaker from Madison, appeared as a possible winner in the Aug. 11 primary.
Evers on July 18 endorsed Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who had dropped out of the race on July 8 and backed Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez. But Rodriguez left the race on July 17 because of revelations of finance issues within her campaign. Rodiguez’s departure and Hong’s rise left moderate Dems without a leading candidate, insiders said. Enter Crowley — again.
“I have indicated I did not plan to endorse anyone in the race for governor because I know each of the candidates and I wanted them to have the opportunity to make their case to Wisconsinites first, just like I did. I also believe that, in a race this close, Wisconsinites deserve to have the perspective of someone who’s done the job, who understands what it takes, and who’s had the benefit of spending years quietly watching how others in politics conduct themselves and treat people when they thought no one was paying attention.
“I’m all in on making sure Wisconsinites continue to have a governor who will stand up for the people of our state, who understands the challenges facing working families and has real plans to help, and who will work to do the right thing with it matters most, and that’s why I’m all in on David Crowley — and I’m urging Wisconsinites to join me in supporting him.”
Endorsements are good and treasured by candidates. But they are most effective when backed by money and campaign support.
And with so little time left and absentee ballots already being cast, Crowley needs all the money and support he can get.
Crowley told reporters after his formal announcement July 18 in Milwaukee that the combination of his experience and the backing of Evers, labor unions and others would create the path to not only winning the Dem nomination Aug. 11 but beating Tom Tiffany in November. Tiffany, a congressman from Minocqua, is the presumptive GOP nominee.
Multiple Dem sources told WisPolitics that aides close to Evers had encouraged Crowley to get back into the race, but the county executive declined to get into details of his discussion with Evers. He would only say multiple people called encouraging him to run and he made the decision with his wife after praying on it.
Crowley said the governor didn’t make any financial promises to him in offering his endorsement.
Crowley reported recently that he spent more than twice as much than he raised during the first six months of the year before dropping out. He had $315,179 in the bank.
Evers had $1 million in his campaign account at the end of June after transferring $400,000 to the state Dem Party.
Crowley’s re-entry creates a sprint to the Aug. 11 primary with Hong, former Evers Administration Secretary Joel Brennan, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and state Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, remaining in the field.
Republican Governors Association spokesperson Kollin Crompton mocked the field, saying, “Watching Wisconsin Democrats is like watching a clown car crash into a parked semi-truck.”
The RGA has begun a $3.2 million media buy labeling Hong as “dangerously liberal.” But insiders see it as an effort to boost her in the primary with its emphasis on Hong’s opposition to Donald Trump’s immigration policies and her vow to take the Dem Party back to its progressive roots.
Crowley didn’t mention Hong in his announcement but alluded to her and the RGA ad buy. The former Dem lawmaker, who was elected county executive in 2020, said the party’s nominee for governor can’t lack the experience and the coalition needed to win the race.
“We cannot allow the GOP to choose the Democratic nominee for governor of the great state of Wisconsin, period,” Crowley told supporters.
Still, he downplayed to reporters the possibility his re-entry could backfire with segments of the Dem base that would see it was the party’s establishment trying to pick the nominee.
“I don’t know who the establishment is,” Crowley said.
Hong welcomed him, saying: “Competition is good for our democracy.”
“Our campaign will remain focused on building the working-class coalition it will take to defeat Tom Tiffany and deliver permanent affordability for Wisconsin families,” she said.
Roys’ campaign continued to argue she was best positioned to beat Tiffany this fall, citing her ad buy and that she had more cash on hand at the end of June than any of the contenders.
Brennan’s campaign said “no matter who else is in or out. Joel will continue making that case directly to the people who have the power to decide: the voters of Wisconsin.”
Meanwhile, Barnes’ campaign knocked Crowley with campaign manager Darby O’Connor noting “he left this race for a reason.”
She pointed to Milwaukee County’s failure to renew a healthcare contract for public employees on time and that he had “absolutely no traction” before leaving the race a little more than a week ago.
“With just 3 weeks until Election Day and after nearly 70,000 people have voted, this Hail Mary serves no purpose other than playing spoiler and handing our state to Trump’s handpicked candidate in Tom Tiffany,” O’Connor said.
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