Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley is re-entering the race for Wisconsin governor, just days after suspending his campaign. His decision follows the sudden withdrawal of Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, who exited the primary on July 17 amid a campaign finance scandal involving inaccurate reports and significant funding discrepancies.
Crowley Returns to a Fractured Democratic Field
David Crowley, who serves as the Milwaukee County Executive, confirmed his return to the gubernatorial race on July 18, less than two weeks after he had initially dropped out to endorse Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez. According to WISN 12 News, Crowley’s move comes as Democratic candidates navigate the fallout of Rodriguez’s departure, which was triggered by the discovery of serious mismanagement and inaccuracies
in her campaign’s financial filings.
Crowley’s re-entry expands a field that already includes state Rep. Francesca Hong, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, state Sen. Kelda Roys, and former Department of Administration head Joel Brennan. Politico reports that two Democratic strategists suggested outgoing Gov. Tony Evers might support Crowley’s bid to help unify the party.
The Financial Scandal Behind the Rodriguez Withdrawal
The collapse of Sara Rodriguez’s campaign began with the firing of her campaign manager, Kara Spencer, on July 12. By July 17, Rodriguez officially suspended her campaign, stating in a video release that she was deeply hurt and betrayed
and wished to avoid her financial issues becoming a distraction for the party.
The campaign had previously reported raising over $618,000 in its January filing. The campaign spokeswoman confirmed that the matter was referred to the Wisconsin Ethics Commission for investigation.
Democratic Primary Dynamics and the Path to November
With the August 11 primary approaching, the Democratic field faces significant pressure to coalesce around a candidate capable of defeating Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany. The Hill notes that the race is currently rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report. Some Democrats have expressed alarm over the momentum of state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist whose candidacy has raised concerns among centrists about the party’s general election prospects.
- Mandella Barnes: His campaign manager, Darby O’Connor, criticized Crowley’s return as a
Hail Mary
that serves no purpose other thanplaying spoiler.
- Francesca Hong: She stated she welcomes the competition, telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
I look forward to the perspective he’ll bring as we each make our case to Wisconsinites.
- Joel Brennan: His campaign manager, Sarah Abel, emphasized that the focus remains on the voters, stating,
Joel will continue making that case directly to the people who have the power to decide.
As the primary nears, the candidates remain focused on the general election. It wouldn’t matter if there were two people in the primary or 20 people in the primary; we are going to be focused on Tom Tiffany and beating him in the general election,
Barnes said, according to WISN.
Uncertainty in the Final Weeks
The sudden volatility in the Democratic primary leaves voters with a crowded ballot just weeks before the August 11 primary.