From the scene: David Crowley re-enters the race for governor
With reactions from supporters, photos and videos from the event, and much more.
The Recombobulation Area is a 19-time 21-TIME! Milwaukee Press Club award-winning opinion column and online publication founded by Milwaukee journalist Dan Shafer.
As I walked into 3rd Street Market Hall to cover Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley’s press conference — where he would announce that he is re-joining the race for governor, ten days after dropping out — I was chatting with other political reporters and people I knew who would be there for the event. I turned around in the hallway, and there came David Crowley, with his family. I pulled out my phone to take a photo, and he flashed his big grin.
We spoke briefly, and he remarked on how ridiculous the last ten days had been — since he ended his campaign, endorsed Sara Rodriguez, then Rodriguez’s campaign imploded over a campaign finance controversy (which he was kept in the dark on), Rodriguez dropped out, and now Crowley was getting back in the race — and said his wife, Ericka, would be speaking at the event.
“She’s going to tell the story,” he said.
The story she’d tell is one where, following the news of the Rodriguez campaign collapse, people were encouraging her husband to rejoin the race, and she initially said, “No, absolutely not!” But as the week unfolded, she, as a woman of faith, spent time in prayer.
“We asked God for wisdom and guidance on this decision,” she said. “We said, if you truly want this for our family, give me an obvious sign — and don’t make it subtle, we don’t do well with subtleties. I even made the joke, make a red bird fly by our window, so we know it’s really you.”
On Friday morning, she said a red bird flew into her vision. Soon after, the phone rang. It was the news that Rodriguez had ended her campaign.
“In that moment, everything we prayed about felt different,” she said. “It was like the atmosphere shifted.”
She continued: “Anyone who knows David knows that public service isn’t about politics for him. It is about the people.”
When the County Executive began his speech, he said, “This is a little more emotional than I thought it would be.”
Quickly, though, he’d deliver his message.
“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.”
During his speech, he discussed his experience running Milwaukee County. He drew a contrast with the presumptive Republican nominee, Congressman Tom Tiffany. He talked about building consensus and getting things done. He talked about the recent ad buy from the Republican Governor’s Association, which seems to aim to boost candidate Francesca Hong, the state representative from Madison, saying it’s “because they’ve decided which Democratic nominee they can beat in November,” adding that this “is a five-alarm warning sign.”
He finished the speech, saying, “Wisconsin deserves a strong Democratic candidate, and that’s exactly why I am reentering this race. Democrats, the choice is yours. Now, let’s get to work to move Wisconsin forward.”
Crowley also discussed some of the other big news of the day, the endorsement he’s receiving from Gov. Tony Evers, saying, “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.”
The governor was not there in person, as he is currently on a trade mission to Africa with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
There’s going to be a lot to say about the governor’s decision in the coming days.
At the event, there were many local elected officials, largely from southeastern Wisconsin, including Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Assembly Minority Leader Kalan Haywood, Milwaukee Alderperson Milele Coggs, Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride, State Rep. Priscilla Prado, State Sen. Melissa Ratcliff, Waukesha Mayor Alicia Halvensleben, Milwaukee Common Council President Jose Perez, Sheboygan Mayor Ryan Sorenson, and more throughout the event.
Coggs, Sorenson, Halvensleben Ratcliff, and Cavalier Johnson all spoke, as did Wisconsin Professional Fire Fighters union leader Jerry Biggart, who doubled down on their organization’s endorsement, and encouraged labor to back Crowley.
I talked to a few of these people, along with other supporters like Waukesha County Democratic Party Chair Matt Moreno, and Ann Jacobs, a commissioner and past chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
Here are some of those reactions.
As we’ve noted, this has been a remarkably discombobulating week in Wisconsin politics. I can’t remember a more chaotic 10 days of campaign politics in the state. It’s been absolute chaos.
But also: We’re living in an attention economy. As we’ve seen with the other side with Trump, chaos gets people’s attention. People weren’t paying attention before. They are now.
Much more to come, in the 24 days before the Aug. 11 primary.
Dan Shafer is a journalist from Milwaukee who writes and publishes The Recombobulation Area. He worked with Civic Media from 2024 to 2026. He’s written for The New York Times, The Daily Beast, Heartland Signal, Belt Magazine, WisPolitics, and Milwaukee Record. He previously worked at Seattle Magazine, Seattle Business Magazine, the Milwaukee Business Journal, Milwaukee Magazine, and BizTimes Milwaukee. He’s won 24 Milwaukee Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards. He’s on Twitter at @DanRShafer.
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This doesn't make any sense for either Evers or Crowley unless there was some promise made for Roys and Brennan to get out. And Kelda seems to have a virtual rally scheduled for tomorrow night, so I can't think she's leaving. Barnes still seems to be staying in the race even though no one seems to really want him to, apparently because he refuses to get the hint about losing?
The math still ain't mathing here. Does Evers or Chris Abele have millions to dump in these last 3 weeks for Crowley? Otherwise this seems to be a self-absorbed move that could well INCREASE the chances of Hong winning, since the non-Hong vote gets split 4 ways.
Dan - do you have anything from the side deals that have to be part of this for it to work?
I have my preference, but I would like some solid polling to tell me who has the best chance of winning. A great policy proposal means nothing if Tiffany wins. I would love the luxury of voting with my heart, but the Walker years are still haunting me. Nopeity nope nope nope. Who can carry this purple state?