Crowley Reenters Wisconsin Democratic Primary Backed by Evers

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley reentered the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor on Saturday, July 18, 2026, just two weeks after suspending his campaign, in a dramatic reversal fueled by a last-minute endorsement from outgoing Governor Tony Evers. The move follows the abrupt departure of Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez from the race on Friday, July 17, amid a campaign finance scandal, throwing the contest into disarray less than a month before the August 11 primary.

Governor Evers, a Democrat who is not seeking a third term, had previously declined to endorse any candidate to succeed him. In a social media post, Evers announced he was now "all in" for Crowley, praising his executive leadership on job creation and budget management. Evers, who was on a trade visit to Africa and not present at Crowley's Milwaukee rally, wrote that Crowley is not just a candidate who can win in November but the kind of person who cares about doing the job right.

At his campaign relaunch, Crowley referenced the high stakes of the election, stating that winning would require building the broadest possible coalition and touting his ability to forge relationships across partisan...