Polling Average
30%25%20%15%10%5%0%
10.0%
23.7%
19.7%
8.4%
7.5%
Democrat
David Crowley
Democratic candidate for Governor in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee?
$16.2M
AUG 18, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Live Odds
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
David Crowley is trading at 100% to win the Wisconsin Democratic Governor nominee? on prediction markets.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleFormer State Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age40 years old (May 14, 1986)
GenderMale
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LocationWisconsin
BackgroundPolitician
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukee — B.S., Community Engagement and Education (2024)
Notable personal detailsDavid C. Crowley is a Democratic politician serving as Milwaukee County Executive since May 4, 2020, and previously represented Wisconsin’s 17th Assembly District from 2017 to 2020. He is a lifelong Milwaukee resident and has worked as a community organizer and legislative aide before holding elected office. He earned a B.S. in Community Engagement and Education from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 2024. He has also been a candidate in the Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin in the 2026 election cycle.
SourcesShowHide
county.milwaukee.govcrowleyforwi.comnaco.orgen.wikipedia.orgapnews.commilwaukeeindependent.comuwm.edumilwaukeecounty.legistar.comwpr.orgurbanmilwaukee.comtmj4.comcity.milwaukee.govwisconsinexaminer.comcbs58.commcw.eduwispolitics.comwisn.comdailycardinal.comhoodline.commilwaukeecourier.comfox6now.comjsonline.compolitico.compbswisconsin.orgwisconsinwatch.orgyoutube.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgwikidata.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orgstatic.votesmart.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgbioguide.congress.govballotready.orgncsl.orgfec.govnga.org
Political Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports reducing reliance on property taxes by diversifying local revenue (including a sales tax increase), favors tax relief for working families, and backs state budget investments in services while seeking commissions or reforms to the tax code rather than blanket tax cuts. Emphasizes using new revenue streams to fund public services and pension obligations and to invest in housing, transit, and public safety.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to affordable healthcare, protecting Medicaid and Medicare funding, and advancing public health and health equity initiatives at the county level. Prioritized investments in mental health crisis care and appointed a chief health policy advisor to guide public-health and equity-focused policies. Has acted to maintain county employee healthcare coverage and opposed federal funding cuts that would reduce critical health services.
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Immigration & Border
David Crowley opposes local law-enforcement partnerships with ICE and supports existing Milwaukee County policies that do not honor ICE detainers or assist federal immigration arrests. He has called for local law enforcement to focus on community protection rather than serving as federal immigration agents and criticized ICE arrests at the county courthouse.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports protecting and restoring abortion access and describes abortion as essential healthcare; he has said he will defend a person’s right to make reproductive health decisions and opposes laws that restrict abortion. He co-sponsored a 2017 legislative resolution declaring abortion is health care and has issued statements criticizing decisions that limit abortion access.
Climate & Energy
David Crowley has advanced a county-level climate strategy aiming for net‑zero carbon emissions in Milwaukee County operations by 2050 and has supported clean energy installations and energy-efficiency programs. His administration enacted the Milwaukee County Climate Action 2050 plan and pursued measures such as on-site solar and workforce programs tied to energy efficiency. These actions emphasize emissions reductions, clean energy investment, and equity-focused climate resilience at the county level.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate emphasizes preventing and reducing gun violence through community-based violence-prevention programs, investments in public safety infrastructure, and removing illegal guns from streets while collaborating with state and local partners. Policy statements focus on funding prevention (e.g., Advance Peace), improving public-safety facilities, and coordinating with the governor’s office on violence-prevention efforts.
Latest News
AINews Summary
Last updatedAug 13, 2026
David Crowley has won the Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary and is now the party’s nominee for governor. He defeated Francesca Hong in a very close race, after briefly leaving the contest and then re-entering with backing from outgoing Gov. Tony Evers and other party leaders. Crowley will face Republican Tom Tiffany in the November general election, and the result came after polls had shown a tighter or different race than the final outcome.
county.milwaukee.gov+36
Articles
WEWashington Examiner18 hours ago
Did bad polls make DSA more appealing than it was?
Positive
GBGreen Bay Press-Gazette1 day ago
Tiffany says Crowley's primary win won't change Wisconsin governor race
Positive
GBGreen Bay Press-Gazette1 day ago
Wisconsin election results by county for governor, Democratic primary
Positive
NNNBC News1 day ago
Trump administration live updates: Voters deal out upsets in Wisconsin and Minnesota governor primaries
Positive
Latest Polls
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.
David Crowley currently averages 10.0%, ranking third in this race, 9.7 points behind the next candidate.
Polling average: 10.0%Position: thirdMargin: -9.7 ptsLatest poll: 33.0% (Aug 4 - 5)Polls included: 13
Average recalculated from polls through Aug 4 - 5.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
12Wisconsin Democratic Governor primary: 2nd place
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising