Excerpts from David Crowley’s rally speech as he reenters the race for Wisconsin governor with Tony Evers’ support

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has relaunched his campaign for Wisconsin governor on July 18. 

Gov. Tony Evers, who is currently in Africa, endorsed Crowley later in the morning.

Crowley held a rally at 11 in downtown Milwaukee. Crowley was joined by a number of local officials, including Mayor Cavalier Johnson. Some excerpts of Crowley’s speech are published below. 

Crowley’s reentry follows Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropping out of the race after a campaign finance scandal torpedoed her run. 

Party insiders encouraged Crowley to get back in an effort to provide an alternative to frontrunners Francesca Hong and Mandela Barnes. 

Most opponents welcomed Crowley back into the race, except for Barnes. 

His campaign manager, Darby O’Connor, issued a scathing statement bashing the move and attacking Crowley’s record. 

Crowley, a north side native, has strong support in Milwaukee’s Black community. He has struggled with name recognition outside of the county, but managed to hold his own in fundraising numbers compared to his opponents at the end of June. In January, he led the field in fundraising. 

Recent polling suggests he is hovering around the low single digits and has a lot of ground to make up. Evers’ endorsement will certainly help. The Courier also asked U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore if she planned to weigh in on the primary and her office didn’t immediately respond. 

Most chatter centers on Crowley being the Democratic establishment’s final attempt to stop democratic socialism from entering the governor’s mansion.

Hong was cordial in her statement following news Crowley was reentering:

“I welcome David Crowley back into the race, and I look forward to the perspective he’ll bring as we each make our case to Wisconsinites over the next three weeks,” she said. “Competition is good for democracy, and voters deserve a substantive debate about the future of our state. Our campaign will remain focused on building the working-class coalition it will take to defeat Tom Tiffany and deliver permanent affordability for Wisconsin families.”

The Republican Governors Association is spending millions to boost Hong through ads, because they want her to be the nominee, thinking she will be easier to defeat in November.

“That is a five-alarm warning sign,” Crowley said.

Here is some of what Crowley said at the rally:

“From day one, I’ve said the stakes in this election are too high for anyone to sit on the sidelines. When I suspended my campaign, I made clear that Wisconsin needed a leader who would show up for working families, bring people together, and deliver results. That hasn’t changed.”

“What also hasn’t changed is the threat Tom Tiffany poses to Wisconsin’s future. We know exactly what kind of governor he would be. He would put Donald Trump ahead of the people of Wisconsin, side with the special interests of wealthy corporate donors funding his campaign, undermine reproductive freedom, attack organized labor, and roll back the progress we’ve made protecting our land, water, and air. Wisconsin cannot afford four years of Tom Tiffany.”

“The Republican Governors Association is bankrolling millions right now, not to attack a Democrat, but to boost one, because they’ve decided which Democratic nominee they can beat in November. That is a five-alarm warning sign.”

“We cannot let the GOP choose the Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin. Period. Democrats have to make that decision, based on who can actually win in every corner of this state and govern from day one.”

“That is exactly the choice in front of us right now. Democrats cannot afford to head into the general election with a nominee who lacks the experience, the record, or the coalition necessary to win, especially with Republicans actively trying to hand us that outcome. This election is too important to gamble on. That’s why today I am reentering this race.”

“We need a nominee who can energize Democrats in Milwaukee and Madison,while also competing in suburban and rural communities across the state. I have deep roots and strong support in Milwaukee County, where Democratic turnout is crucial, and I have spent years building relationships across Wisconsin that allow us to be competitive statewide.”

“Governor Tony Evers understands what’s required to run, win, and govern in Wisconsin because he’s done it. The Governor’s endorsement reflects his confidence that I have the experience, the judgment, and the record to build the coalition we need, defeat Tom Tiffany, and lead effectively from the very first day in office. This race isn’t just about who can win a primary. It’s about winning in November.”