Wisconsin business leaders endorse David Crowley for governor after Tom Tiffany refuses to commit to upholding the election results

Over 50 prominent Wisconsin business leaders are endorsing Democrat David Crowley in the race for Wisconsin governor, saying Republican Tom Tiffany refused to commit to protecting democracy.

The Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy sent letters to both Crowley and Tiffany on Aug. 27 asking them to pledge to respect certified election results, reject political violence and intimidation, protect voting rights and preserve nonpartisan election administration.

Crowley signed the pledge; Tiffany did not.

The Leadership Now PAC announced the launch of a new digital advertising campaign following concerns that Tiffany won’t commit to upholding the results of Wisconsin’s free and fair elections.

The PAC is investing an initial $75,000 on the ad campaign; the spots will run on Meta and YouTube and are targeted at moderate voters and business leaders. They will run through Election Day.

"Free and fair elections are not a partisan issue. They are the foundation of our democracy and the stability our businesses and communities depend on," said John Florsheim, President at Weyco Group, Inc., based in Milwaukee who appears in the ad. "We asked both candidates for governor to make a simple commitment: respect the voters, respect the results and uphold the rule of law. David Crowley signed that pledge. Tom Tiffany did not. At a time when our democratic institutions face serious threats, Wisconsin voters deserve to know where their candidates stand."

Tiffany’s reluctance to accept democracy stems from President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and question election integrity.

The open letter comes as Wisconsin election officials prepare for potential federal law enforcement activity at polling places ahead of November's midterm elections. Recent reporting confirms that local clerks are receiving training on how to respond if armed federal agents appear at voting locations.

On October 1, the Wisconsin Department of Justice also issued a public warning against voter intimidation and threats to election workers, emphasizing that federal law generally prohibits deploying armed federal personnel to active polling places. These developments follow a Department of Homeland Security investigation into alleged voter fraud in nine states, including Wisconsin, and continued federal inquiries into the state's 2020 election results.

Wisconsin's elections are administered locally, with established safeguards including paper ballots, publicly tested voting equipment, transparent procedures and bipartisan oversight. Allegations of widespread election fraud have been repeatedly investigated and litigated without evidence establishing fraud sufficient to change statewide election outcomes.

Yet federal investigations launched in the final weeks before an election risk creating uncertainty and undermining public confidence in the very institutions responsible for ensuring that every eligible vote is counted.

The principles in the pledge were informed by the Candidate Principles for Trusted Elections, developed by a bipartisan coalition of organizations and individuals focused on election integrity, nonviolence, security, oversight and the peaceful transfer of power.

"Strong businesses need strong democratic institutions," said Anoop Prakash, an automotive industry executive and former Bush administration appointee, based in Milwaukee, who also appears in the ad. "Investment in job growth and our communities requires confidence in the rule of law. When a candidate for governor refuses to make a basic commitment to respecting election results, past and present, that should concern every Wisconsin voter, regardless of political affiliation. The stakes are too high."

"This isn't about Republicans or Democrats. It's about protecting the rules that make our democracy—and our economy—work," said Tom Florsheim, a founding member of Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy. "Wisconsin voters should decide Wisconsin elections. Our election officials should be able to do their jobs without intimidation or political interference, and every lawful vote should be counted. Those principles should unite us, regardless of party."

The 53 leaders committed to standing together to:

• Defend every eligible citizen's right to vote and have that vote counted.
• Support impartial, transparent election administration free from politically timed interference.
• Stand with Wisconsin election officials against threats and intimidation.
• Correct demonstrably false claims about Wisconsin's elections, regardless of their source.
• Speak publicly and collectively if lawful certification is obstructed or election results are challenged outside established legal processes.

Here’s a full list of the business leaders who asked for a pledge from Crowley and Tiffany:

Early voting is underway in Wisconsin. Election Day is Nov. 3.