Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced on Wednesday that he is dropping out of the race for Wisconsin governor.
“It has become clear that I will not be the Democratic nominee for Governor, so today I am stepping out of this race, but I am not stepping away from the work,” Crowley said in a press release. “Politics should not be about who talks the loudest. It’s about showing up, working with anyone who wants to solve the problem, and delivering results people can see in their own communities. That’s how I’ve governed in Milwaukee County, and that’s how I’ll keep governing.”
Crowley will continue to serve as County Executive, a position he’s held since 2020.
Crowley, a Democrat, will still appear on primary ballots on August 11, says Ballotpedia. The remaining Democratic candidates are Sara Rodriguez, Joel Brennan, Francesca Hong, Kelda Roys, Missy Hughes, and Mandela Barnes. The Republican candidates in the primary are Tom Tiffany and Andy Manske.
After the primaries, the general election for Wisconsin governor and lieutenant governor is scheduled for November 3.
Here’s Crowley’s full announcement:
County Executive David Crowley Ends Campaign for Governor
MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced today that he is ending his campaign for Governor of Wisconsin. Crowley will continue serving as Milwaukee County Executive, a position he has held since 2020.
“When we launched this campaign, we set out to talk with people in every corner of Wisconsin about the future of this state, and that is exactly what we did,” said Crowley. “The issues that I have been able to tackle as Milwaukee County Executive were not just Milwaukee issues. It was my goal to build bridges between communities so that people from across our state could come together to face these challenges head-on. From dairy farms, to church basements, to coffee shops across this state, I heard the same thing over and over. People want leaders who show up, tell the truth, and get things done. I am proud of the campaign we ran and grateful to every volunteer, donor, and supporter who believed in it.”
“It has become clear that I will not be the Democratic nominee for Governor, so today I am stepping out of this race, but I am not stepping away from the work. Politics should not be about who talks the loudest. It’s about showing up, working with anyone who wants to solve the problem, and delivering results people can see in their own communities. That’s how I’ve governed in Milwaukee County, and that’s how I’ll keep governing.”
Crowley emphasized that the stakes of the November election remain his central focus.
“Our next governor needs to be focused on the basics: making this state affordable, making sure care shows up for families before a crisis instead of after, and building real opportunity from the classroom to a good-paying job. That is what Badger Basics was all about, and those ideas do not leave this race just because I do. Whoever leads our party in November should be fighting to lower housing and energy costs, cap what families pay for childcare, fund our schools so they are not lurching from referendum to referendum, and create clear paths to careers that let people build a life right here in Wisconsin. Families in this state are doing everything right and still falling behind. That is not a personal failure, it is a policy failure, and fixing it has to be the job description for the next governor of Wisconsin.”
“The most important thing now is for Democrats to come together and defeat Tom Tiffany in November. Tiffany’s record in Washington does not reflect Wisconsin’s values, and the people of this state deserve a governor who will fight for working families, protect our natural resources, invest in our communities, and be beholden to the people of our state, not Donald Trump. While I will not be the candidate, I will still do everything in my power to ensure that we win in November.”
Crowley made history in 2020 as the youngest person and first African American elected Milwaukee County Executive, and he was reelected in 2024. During his tenure, the county has significantly strengthened its fiscal position, expanded investments in parks and public health, and addressed racism as a public health crisis, becoming a national model for embedding equity in county government.
“Serving as County Executive is the privilege of my life,” Crowley said. “I will keep showing up for the people of Milwaukee County the same way I have every day since they first put their trust in me.”
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