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.
Crowley and Tiffany Split on the Surplus, ICE and Abortion in Their Only Governor's Debate
In the race's lone televised debate, Tom Tiffany pitched handing Wisconsin's $3 billion surplus back as tax cuts while David Crowley pushed schools, child care and a fairer tax code. They also clashed on ICE, abortion and 2020.
Republican Tom Tiffany wants to hand Wisconsin's roughly $3 billion surplus back to taxpayers as permanent tax cuts. Democrat David Crowley wants much of it spent on schools, child care and health care. That split framed the only debate of the governor's race, an hourlong WISN 12 broadcast Wednesday night from Marquette University Law School's Eckstein Hall in Milwaukee, with the election 13 days out.
The two also broke sharply on immigration enforcement, abortion and Tiffany's votes after the 2020 election. They agreed on more than either campaign's ads suggest: both would keep Milwaukee's private school voucher program, both want data center tax breaks gone, and both say they'd certify the 2028 presidential results no matter who wins.
The race is close. The latest Marquette Law School poll, taken Sept. 16-23, had Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, at 49% and U.S. Rep. Tiffany at 46% among likely voters, inside the 4.8-point margin of error. Among registered voters it was 46% to 45%.
Who Gets the Surplus
Tiffany proposed a 10% income tax cut for households earning $150,000 or less, an end to state income taxes on tips and overtime, and property tax relief, CBS 58 reported. He rejected one-time rebate checks. He didn't say how the state would replace the lost revenue beyond predicting a growing economy would cover it, according to WPR.
Crowley called for a fairer tax structure and more state aid to public schools so districts lean less on local property taxes, but he didn't name a rate or bracket when asked whether he'd add a new top tax bracket for the highest earners. He also backs capping rent increases and lengthening eviction notices for renters, the Daily Cardinal reported. He noted more than 70 Wisconsin school districts have referendums on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Green Bay Area Public Schools is one of them, asking voters for a $158 million operating referendum over four years to replace an expiring one and cover what the district calls a state funding gap.
Crowley pointed to Tiffany's vote in Congress for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the Wisconsin Examiner reported that Tiffany's campaign has been funded largely by three billionaires: Diane Hendricks, Richard Uihlein and Liz Uihlein. Tiffany dismissed Crowley's focus on billionaires and said he was “for Wisconsin.” On roads, Crowley said he's open to tolls or other user fees, while Tiffany ruled out tolls and new fees. Both oppose tying the gas tax to inflation.
ICE, Abortion and 2020
Tiffany said he'd have local, county and state law enforcement work with ICE, and when asked whether that should be required by law, he answered, “I believe we should,” Fox News reported. He called Crowley an “accomplice” to undocumented immigrants who commit crimes. Crowley said local police and sheriffs shouldn't enter detainer agreements with ICE, and that agents should show badges instead of masks and get a judicial warrant before entering jails and prisons. He said he supports deporting people who commit crimes.
On abortion, Tiffany pledged to uphold Wisconsin's ban after 20 weeks, which he voted for as a state legislator, and said he wouldn't sign a state version of the six-week federal bill he co-authored in Congress. Crowley pointed out that the federal bill had no exceptions for rape, incest or the patient's health, according to the Examiner. Crowley backs adding abortion rights to the state constitution. Asked whether he'd sign a bill with no gestational limit, he didn't answer directly, saying those decisions belong to a patient and doctor and that such a bill would never reach his desk.
Tiffany defended joining the effort to overturn the 2020 results, including his votes against certifying Arizona and Pennsylvania. He said his objection centered on private election grants, including $15 million from Mark Zuckerberg, and on clerk guidance about indefinitely confined voters. The Examiner noted the Wisconsin Supreme Court quickly blocked that guidance. Crowley responded that Tiffany never alleged wrongdoing in the vote itself. Joe Biden carried Wisconsin by about 20,600 votes, a margin a Milwaukee and Dane County recount confirmed in November 2020. Tiffany said Wednesday he'd consider changes to the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
Data Centers, Vouchers and Prisons
With 74% of registered voters telling Marquette pollsters that data centers cost more than they're worth, neither candidate defended them. Tiffany said there should be no data centers unless utility rates don't rise, none on farmland, and local control over siting. Crowley said he'd sign a repeal of the sales tax incentives Republicans wrote into the 2023 state budget and Gov. Tony Evers signed, and he backs pausing projects pending an environmental review. Tiffany accused him of changing positions. Crowley noted the federal law Tiffany voted for included $80 billion in data center tax breaks, by his count. The Examiner also pointed to Tiffany's 2017 vote for the $3 billion Foxconn tax break, whose site Microsoft later used for a data center.
Neither candidate would end the voucher program. Tiffany said he'd consider raising its income cap, and Crowley said it shouldn't expand. Crowley backs legalizing recreational and medical marijuana, while Tiffany supports researching medical use.
Prisons didn't come up in published accounts of the debate, but both candidates have said they'd move ahead with closing Green Bay Correctional Institution, along with Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, the USA TODAY Network reported last week.
After the Debate
Crowley skipped the post-debate media availability and sent former state Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler to speak for him, CBS 58 reported. Tiffany's campaign criticized the absence. This was the campaign's only debate after the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation canceled its Oct. 9 debate because one candidate didn't accept. Crowley's campaign said he'd planned to take part, and Tiffany's campaign didn't respond to WBAY.
Election Day is Nov. 3. Voters can check their registration and find early voting hours through MyVote Wisconsin.
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.
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.
