Thomas Tiffany

Both candidates say turnout will be key to who leads Wisconsin over next 4 years

Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley made their final pitches to voters on why they should be governor during their final day of dueling bus tours ahead of Tuesday’s election.

Both men say they have the people and the energy to win the race if their supporters turn out at the polls.

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Republicans got an early start at the Bonds Social Club speakeasy just outside Eau Claire Monday morning. When Tiffany walked in, the 50 or so supporters erupted in cheers and chants of “Tom! Tom! Tom!”Tiffany said it was good to be back in western Wisconsin, where he originally hails from. He said the election is about a “clear choice” for which direction Wisconsin will go over the next four years.“Are we going to have the American dream here in Wisconsin, or are we going to be one of the states in decline? Are we going to end up like Minnesota or Illinois?” Tiffany asked, before supporters gave a resounding “No!”

He reiterated well-worn campaign themes like returning Wisconsin’s $3 billion budget surplus to taxpayers, reducing regulations for home building and business expansions, auditing state government and repealing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ 400-year veto.Tiffany also acknowledged last week’s Marquette University Law School poll showing Crowley leading him by 7 percentage points among the most likely voters.“Don’t let anybody kid you about this race. We are in striking distance,” Tiffany said. “This race is a dead heat. Charles Franklin, the pollster, said it yesterday. He said, if they get their voters out, those people that vote conservative these days, they are going to win this race, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do because we can feel it at the grassroots level.”

A couple hours later, Crowley made campaign stops in Kenosha, Racine and Greendale, with a final event in Milwaukee on Monday night, according to his campaign website.

After a speech to supporters at the Racine County Democratic Party headquarters, Crowley told reporters he’s feeling optimistic ahead of election day.

“I feel good,” Crowley said. “Don’t get me wrong. That doesn’t take away the stress of Election Day being tomorrow. But I feel really good.”

He joked that residents in the region are ready for the swarm of election advertisements on TV to pass, so they can get back to more familiar commercials for local law firms.

Crowley has made a point of highlighting Tiffany’s support of President Donald Trump throughout the campaign, which continued at the Racine event. Crowley said if he’s elected governor, he’ll work to lower costs for things like childcare, fully fund public schools and protect women’s access to reproductive care. He urged his supporters to continue knocking on doors to mobilize Democrats and get them to the polls.

“We have too much at stake to have anybody sitting on the sideline,” Crowley said. “We can’t afford anybody to take their ball and go home. So we need to show up.”

Pete Buttigieg, the former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and potential candidate for president in 2028, also stumped for Crowley in Racine. During a speech that was just over 10 minutes long, he said Crowley’s priorities “are the priorities of the people of Wisconsin.”

“That’s who you need in that seat,” Buttigieg said, as supporters in the packed room clapped.

Buttigieg is the latest prominent Democrat to stump for Crowley in Wisconsin. Former Vice President Kamala Harris was at an event in Milwaukee last week, while Maryland Gov. Wes Moore campaigned for Crowley last month.

Crowley was joined at the Racine event by his running mate Sarah Godlewski and other Democrats running for office, including Attorney General Josh Kaul, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, Trevor Jung and Mitchell Berman, who is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District.

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