David Crowley Makes History As The First Black Governor Of Wisconsin

On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Democrat David Crowley defeated Republican Tom Tiffany in the quest to become Wisconsin’s next governor, according to a race called by the Associated Press.

Crowley, 40, is currently Milwaukee County Executive. His campaign for governor focused on lowering costs for working families and bringing more jobs to Wisconsin.

Hundreds of Crowley’s supporters erupted in applause as he took the stage at his victory party at Landmark Credit Union Live in downtown Milwaukee. He thanked his wife Erika and their three daughters before saying he hopes to serve both voters who supported him and those who didn't. While he promised to represent voters throughout the state, Crowley didn't mince words about where he came from. “This win belongs to Milwaukee, the city that raised me,” he said.

Tom Tiffany, meanwhile, was endorsed by President Donald Trump and has voted for Trump's policies on many occasions — a challenging position for a candidate in a midterm election, which resulted in a groundswell of support for Democrats across the country.

Crowley will be Wisconsin’s first Black governor and one of a handful of Black officials who’ve been elected to statewide office in Wisconsin. On the campaign trail, he said the historic nature of the race is not lost on him, “but I'm running to be a governor for all of us [in Wisconsin]. And it doesn't matter what zip codes you live in, who you love, or where you come from, I want to make sure that we can move our entire state forward."

Milwaukee voter and local hip-hop artist Rayhainio Boynes attended Crowley’s party and shared what he makes of the historic win. “People say, ‘oh, Wisconsin isn’t ready to elect a Black governor, Wisconsin isn’t this. Wisconsin isn’t that. But we showed it tonight. I think we need to stop perpetuating false narratives and start pushing more love and positivity and unity for the whole state of Wisconsin.”