David Crowley promised Act 10 repeal, a BadgerCare option and universal pre-K in his first 30 days. A shrinking budget balance, a lost federal Medicaid bonus and a one-vote Senate cushion stand in the way.
David Crowley will be Wisconsin's first Black governor, with 18-15 and 53-46 majorities behind him. Bargaining rights, BadgerCare and school money top a long Democratic list, while two new constitutional amendments narrow the field.
Crowley carried Brown County, reportedly the first Democrat to do so since 1982, while Brandy Tollefson flipped the 88th and Green Bay's $158 million referendum passed. Gillett, Pulaski and Seymour voters said no.
Brown County Backs a Democrat for Governor as De Pere's 88th Flips and Green Bay Schools Win $158 Million
Crowley carried Brown County, reportedly the first Democrat to do so since 1982, while Brandy Tollefson flipped the 88th and Green Bay's $158 million referendum passed. Gillett, Pulaski and Seymour voters said no.
Brown County voters backed David Crowley for governor Tuesday, the first Democrat to carry the county since 1982, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. They also replaced a first-term Republican in the De Pere area and approved $158 million for Green Bay's public schools, which had already cut staff and closed buildings to balance their books.
Crowley took Brown County 58,410 to 55,947 out of 115,143 ballots, according to the county clerk's unofficial summary. The Journal Sentinel measured a 6.5-point shift toward Democrats since 2022. Attorney General Josh Kaul ran slightly ahead of him locally, 58,889 to 55,024.
The Democratic turn had limits. Republican Treasurer John Leiber won Brown County 57,977 to 54,943, and Republican Jay Schroeder edged JoCasta Zamarripa for secretary of state 54,925 to 53,788, with a Wisconsin Green candidate drawing 4,618 votes. Rick Crosson beat U.S. Rep. Tony Wied in Brown County 57,821 to 55,507 and still lost the 8th Congressional District, 53.9% to 46.1%, according to the Press-Gazette's count. The Wisconsin Examiner noted the seat drew less national attention and money than the 1st and 3rd districts.
Elsewhere in the region, Crowley also flipped Winnebago County with 52.5%, its first Democratic result in 20 years by the Journal Sentinel's count, and won Door County with 52.7%. Tiffany held Outagamie County with 50.3%, and his margins ran far higher in Calumet, Oconto, Marinette and Shawano counties.
Democrats also picked up the open 53rd District when former Menasha alder Becky Nichols beat Republican David Daniels 55% to 39%, according to the Examiner. Rep. Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) retired from the seat.
In Green Bay, Rep. Ryan Spaude held the 89th over Bobby Lindsey 12,608 to 9,717, and Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner won his 90th District rematch with Jessica Henderson 11,320 to 7,133. Republicans kept most of the region's other seats, the Press-Gazette reported, including those held by Reps. Joel Kitchens, Shae Sortwell, David Steffen, Joy Goeben and Elijah Behnke. In Senate District 1, where no Democrat ran to replace Sen. Andre Jacque, Republican Nic Cravillion beat independent Mark Becker 35,312 to 25,392.
The district blamed a shortfall in state and federal money for the request. State funding was meant to cover 45% of special education costs, and Green Bay will receive 38%, NBC 26 reported. Chief Financial Officer Angie Roble told FOX 11 after the vote that it's "a clear indicator that the funding system is broken."
Seymour voters turned down $5 million a year for three years. The Press-Gazette reported Oconto Unified's $900,000-a-year request lost by 85 votes, while Times-Community News showed a passing count, a conflict the canvass should settle. Little Chute voters approved both of their questions, a $1.95 million capital borrowing and $400,000 a year for operations over five years. West De Pere's question led 6,087 to 4,891 in Brown County's count.
Amendments Ran Closer Here
Brown County split the same way the state did on three constitutional amendments. Voters here backed the ban on government preferential treatment 65,371 to 45,515 and the partial veto limit 58,694 to 51,885. The ban on closing places of worship in emergencies failed in the county by 232 votes, 55,833 to 55,601. Oconto County, by contrast, supported that measure with 63.7%.
County canvasses come next, and every figure here stays unofficial until they're done. Tollefson and Nichols join the new Democratic majority when the Legislature convenes in January.
David Crowley promised Act 10 repeal, a BadgerCare option and universal pre-K in his first 30 days. A shrinking budget balance, a lost federal Medicaid bonus and a one-vote Senate cushion stand in the way.
David Crowley will be Wisconsin's first Black governor, with 18-15 and 53-46 majorities behind him. Bargaining rights, BadgerCare and school money top a long Democratic list, while two new constitutional amendments narrow the field.
More than a dozen area districts are asking voters Tuesday to exceed state revenue limits or borrow. Three of them lost in April and came back with smaller requests, and Green Bay's $158 million ask is the largest in the state.
The last Marquette Law School Poll before Nov. 3 puts Crowley ahead 51% to 44% among likely voters. Less-certain voters lean Tiffany, and Trump's approval in Wisconsin hit a record low.
