Crowley and Tiffany Clash in Sole Wisconsin Gubernatorial Debate
Democratic candidate David Crowley and Republican Tom Tiffany debated tax policy, education, and election integrity ahead of the November 3 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Republican U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany faced off Wednesday, October 21, in their first and only televised gubernatorial debate at Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee. The candidates clashed over the allocation of Wisconsin's nearly $3 billion budget surplus; Tiffany proposed returning the funds through long-term tax cuts, including a 10% income tax cut for those earning $150,000 or less, while Crowley advocated for funding public schools and providing property tax relief.
Disagreements extended to immigration and education. Tiffany supported requiring sheriffs to honor federal ICE detainers and defended the expansion of private school vouchers. Crowley opposed local ICE contracts and the expansion of the voucher program. On the issue of data centers, both candidates supported local input, though Tiffany opposed subsidies and Crowley proposed a pause for environmental reviews.
The candidates also sparred over abortion rights and election integrity. Tiffany supported maintaining the state's 20-week abortion ban, while Crowley advocated for a state constitutional amendment to protect those rights. Regarding the 2020 presidential election, Tiffany defended his votes to overturn results by citing concerns over election integrity, though both candidates pledged to certify the 2028 election results. The race remains a statistical tie according to a Marquette University Law School poll ahead of the November 3 election.
