David Crowley, Milwaukee County executive who won Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial primary as the more moderate alternative to socialist Francesca Hong, has built a record that includes racial-equity budgeting tools and carbon-neutrality goals similar to policies championed by his vanquished opponent. The overlap raises questions about how Crowley will position himself for a general election in a state that twice backed former President Donald Trump.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats point to Crowley's Racial Equity Budget Tool as a data-driven approach to addressing economic disparities, arguing it identifies structural barriers that traditional budgeting overlooks. "The REBT is a structured racial equity lens for Milwaukee County departments to use to critically assess the impact of budget decisions on communities of color," according to the county's 2024 budget document. Supporters argue this represents pragmatic governance rather than ideological overreach, using analytical tools to direct resources effectively.
Wisconsin Public Radio characterized Crowley during the primary as a "mainstream Democratic alternative" to Hong, and CBS News called him a "moderate Democrat" following his primary victory. Axios framed his upset win as potentially signaling a revival for the party's center-left wing. Crowley's own framing emphasized areas of agreement: "There's many things that everybody agrees on," he told supporters during the primary, while acknowledging policy differences with Hong.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have seized on Crowley's record, arguing his policies amount to higher taxes and bureaucratic expansion dressed up in equity language. Wisconsin Republican consultant Mark Bednar told Fox News Digital: "Milwaukee County is known for its beer and brats, but unfortunately it's also the epicenter of David Crowley's budgetary boondoggles. Under Crowley's failed leadership, residents received their largest property tax hike in 15 years, paid higher sales taxes for everyday purchases, and saw millions of their hard-earned tax dollars set up to finance Crowley's Green New Deal 'Net Zero' scam for the county."
Bednar added: "In an era where voters are increasingly focused on the economy and their pocketbooks, Wisconsinites should ask themselves, do they really want to expand Crowley's gross mismanagement and liberal priorities to the whole state?" The Republican National Committee is expected to highlight comparisons between Crowley and Hong's policy agendas as a central campaign theme.
What the Numbers Show
Milwaukee County's Racial Equity Budget Tool requires departments to assess how budget decisions affect communities of color. The county's 2024 budget states: "Racism is a public health crisis in Milwaukee County." Under Crowley's tenure, the Office on African American Affairs expanded into an Office of Equity with broader jurisdiction over additional communities and increased accountability for racial-equity goals.
Crowley signed Milwaukee County's Climate Action 2050 plan in April 2025, committing county government operations to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 — the same year Hong called for statewide carbon neutrality. Both candidates backed taxing millionaires, a $20 minimum wage, expanded union rights, and universal child care. Specific property tax figures were not disclosed in available statements.
The Bottom Line
The primary outcome revealed divisions within Wisconsin's Democratic Party over electability versus progressive purity, with Hong's loss attributed partly to voter concerns about her socialist label. Crowley's challenge will be defending a record that includes some policies nearly identical to his opponent's while maintaining a moderate image. His climate commitments — net-zero by 2050, supporting lawsuits against fossil fuel companies, reaffirming the Paris Agreement — mirror positions Hong staked out during the campaign, which Republicans are likely to highlight in attack ads.