Crowley won Wisconsin’s open governor’s seat, defeating Rep. Tom Tiffany to become the state’s first Black governor.
David Crowley, 40, has spent his career in Milwaukee. He served two terms in the state Assembly, then was elected Milwaukee County executive in 2020 at 33 — the youngest person and the first Black person to hold that office, running the state’s largest county through the pandemic and its fiscal fights.
His path to the nomination was remarkable: he suspended his campaign in July, re-entered 24 days before the August primary, and won it narrowly — with the endorsement of outgoing Gov. Tony Evers.
Crowley’s general-election win makes Wisconsin the latest state to elect its first Black governor, in a place where statewide races are usually decided by a point or two. Watch his fight with the Republican legislature over school funding and shared revenue for cities and counties.
Fast facts
- Age: 40
- Party: Democratic
- Office: Governor of Wisconsin
- State: Wisconsin
- Previous job: Milwaukee County executive (since 2020)
- Called by AP: 11:28 p.m. ET, Nov. 3
Part of the Zark News Election 2026 winners profile series. Winners are listed as called by the Associated Press.
