Wisconsin Governor's Race Heats Up as Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley Joins the Battle

Strategic Insights -

David Crowley, the 39-year-old Milwaukee County Executive, has launched his bid for Wisconsin governor, touting his background in office and experience in one of the state's poorest neighborhoods as key qualifications. Crowley's candidacy marks the start of a crowded and competitive primary, with Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez and several other Democrats already in the running. Crowley's platform focuses on lowering costs for families, affordable health care, and fully funding public schools, drawing on his own experiences growing up in poverty in the 53206 ZIP code, which was found to be the most incarcerated ZIP code in the country.

Key Takeaways:

  • Crowley, 39, is vying to become the state's first Black governor.
  • He grew up in the 53206 ZIP code, which is known for high rates of poverty, incarceration, and poor health care.
  • Crowley leans into his background, highlighting how his family was once homeless in Milwaukee but he rose to become a community organizer and was elected to the state Assembly in 2016 at age 30.
  • Crowley was elected as executive of Milwaukee County at age 33, making him the first Black person to hold that job.
  • He started pursuing a college degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee three years ago and graduated in December, while serving as county executive.
  • Crowley's platform emphasizes being a "governor for all of us," focusing on lowering costs for families, affordable health care, and fully funding public schools.
  • Rodriguez, who is 50, has a proven record of delivering results across all 72 counties and won the 2022 primary for lieutenant governor.
  • Both Crowley and Rodriguez have targeted President Donald Trump early in the governor's race, with Crowley calling him "chaos and cruelty" and Rodriguez labeling him a "maniac".
  • Crowley is one of several younger Democratic candidates looking to replace outgoing Governor Tony Evers, who is 73.

Statistics:

  • 53206 ZIP code is the most incarcerated ZIP code in the country (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee study, 2013).
  • Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley was the first Black person to hold that job and youngest at age 33.
  • Crowley was elected to the state Assembly in 2016 at age 30.
  • Rodriguez won the 2022 primary for lieutenant governor.
  • 11 months remaining before the primary in August 2024 (according to Crowley's campaign).
  • Republican Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann is 43, and suburban Milwaukee businessman Bill Berrien is 56.

Sources:

  • Wisconsin Governor campaign launch video by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (undated).
  • Associated Press article, "Wisconsin governor's race heats up as Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley joins the battle" (undated).
  • Wisconsin Watch, "Wisconsin governor's race heats up as Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley joins the battle" (undated).
  • Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley's official biography.
  • University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee study on the 53206 ZIP code (2013).