David Crowley becomes first Black person elected governor in Wisconsin history

ZIP code 53206 is moving into the governor’s mansion.

Democrat David Crowley sailed to victory Tuesday over Republican Tom Tiffany in the race for Wisconsin governor.

The northern Wisconsin congressman had conceded the race to the Milwaukee County Executive by 9:30 p.m. With 95% of the vote in, the Milwaukee County Executive led by eight points, more than 200,000 votes.

"This is a very good day. Because of you, a boy who grew up facing eviction will now live in the governor's residence," Crowley said in his victory speech.

In what was a clear referendum on President Donald Trump and Republicans, Democrats achieved their blue wave nationally.

Tiffany said in his concession speech: "I want congratulate David Crowley on his victory. While we have our differences, we both love this great state and I wish him and his family the very best as he prepares to serve as Wisconsin's next governor."

Crowley is now the first Black person to be elected governor in state history and will be the youngest governor in the country.

What a wild journey it has been for the 40-year-old Milwaukee native. Crowley grew up in one of the poorest ZIP codes anywhere in the country. But in overcoming the adversity it led him to a life of public service.

A graduate of Bay View High School, a Milwaukee public school, Crowley served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2017 to 2020 before being elected Milwaukee County Executive in 2020. He was reelected in 2024.

When Gov. Tony Evers decided not to seek a third term, Crowley emerged immediately as a candidate for governor. But he couldn’t have imagined how the next 14 months would play out.

Wisconsin Democrats had one of the most highly contentious primaries in the country. Following low polling numbers, Crowley dropped out of the race on July 8 and backed Lt Gov. Sara Rodriguez.

But within 11 days, following a financial scandal at the Rodriguez campaign, Crowley was back in the race with the endorsement of Evers.

State Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, sat atop all public polling at this point in the race and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes decided to drop out on July 29. It was now a two-person race between Hong and Crowley, and narratives were spun up declaring this another round of leftism versus the establishment.

Evers and Crowley blitzed across the state in the final weeks before the primary and pulled off one of the great comebacks on Election Day, winning by less than 4,000 votes.

Evers said in a statement late on Tuesday: “A few months ago, David becoming Wisconsin’s next governor might have seemed like a long shot. But fight runs in David Crowley’s blood. He was born a Comeback Kid, and David’s grit is as Wisconsin as it gets.

“So, just as he’s done all his life, David rolled up his sleeves, went to work, and made history anyway. Growing up in our state’s poorest ZIP code, David’s family used to call him ‘governor.’ And, now, the people of Wisconsin and I will, too.”

From Day 1, Crowley had the support of Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, the first Black person to be elected mayor of the city.

"It's really remarkable that David's in a position to be elected the first Black governor in the state of Wisconsin," Johnson told the Courier. "It means so much, not just to Milwaukee, but to the entire state certainly.

"But especially to little kids that grew up in challenged neighborhoods in the city of Milwaukee."

Marvin Pratt, the first Black person to serve as acting mayor and interim county executive of Milwaukee, watched the election results roll in from his north side home. Here is his reaction to David Crowley becoming the first Black governor in Wisconsin history:

“I think it’s wonderful. I thought he would win, too. Because he didn’t make it about what I’m gonna do, but also he tied Tom Tiffany to Trump, which he voted for 100% of the time.

“It was a referendum on Trump. Trump is so bad, so corrupt and so focused on enriching himself, his family, and even the gold legacy. But that’s really gold plated, not real gold. Everybody is saying, enough of him.

“(Crowley) ran a very smart campaign and I think he didn’t leave his base. I don’t mean just the Black community, but his Milwaukee base. I think it’s great for the city, for the county, for the state.

“The problems that the city of Milwaukee faces in this area, I think he could deal with it better than previous (governors) … even better than Evers. His upbringing, I don't think he'll forget that.

“There was a governor many years ago who said, ‘Let’s stick it to Milwaukee,’ and that was Tommy Thompson. And in the 15 or 20 years the Republicans controlled the Assembly, they have done that.”

Pratt said Democratic control of the state Legislature is “like Christmas” and “like a birthday.”

“Let’s move this state forward and I believe (Crowley) can,” Pratt said.

Crowley isn’t alone in making history on Tuesday. He was one of eight Black candidates seeking the governor’s office and as of 9:30 p.m., among those victorious, were Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia and Republican Byron Donalds in Florida.

Democrats also won control of both chambers in the Wisconsin State Legislature, securing the trifecta.

With complete control of state government, the agenda is lengthy — healthcare public option, renters rights, ban on insider trading, weakening affordability crisis, legalizing marijuana, protecting reproductive rights, regulating Big Tech, AI and data centers, fixing shared revenue and education funding, repealing Act 10, etc.

This election result is also a clear rejection of Trump, the MAGA agenda and the legacy of former Gov. Scott Walker that Crowley’s opponent, Tiffany, was an accomplice to.

Elsewhere in the state, Wisconsin congressional candidates that are allies of the president were upset, including Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil.

This story will be updated.