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СпутникиРНSpaceXРоскосмосNASAThe Milwaukee County executive rose from a childhood marked by eviction and family addiction to become the youngest and first Black person to lead Wisconsin's largest county, and is now locked in a razor-thin Democratic primary for governor.
David Crowley is the Milwaukee County executive and a Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor, running in a primary race that remained too close to call late Tuesday. Crowley, 39, has served as the top official in Wisconsin's largest county since 2020, when he became both the youngest and first Black person elected to the position.
The governor's race marks the highest-profile campaign of Crowley's political career, positioning him against state Rep. Francesca Hong in a Democratic primary that has been described as a clash between the party's establishment and progressive wings. The winner will face Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who has President Donald Trump's endorsement, in November for the seat Gov. Tony Evers is vacating after choosing not to seek a third term.
Age and Early Life
Crowley was born May 14, 1986, in Milwaukee, making him 39 years old. He grew up on Milwaukee's north side in the 53206 ZIP code, an area that has drawn national attention for its high rates of poverty and incarceration. His parents struggled with addiction during his childhood, and the family lost its home when he was 10 years old; Crowley has said he was evicted from at least two more homes before graduating high school. His parents later divorced.
Crowley has credited mentors Reggie and Sharlen Moore, who ran the Milwaukee community organizing group Urban Underground, with drawing him into local government and policing issues as a teenager. He attended Bay View High School in Milwaukee.
Education
Crowley enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to study educational policy and community studies, but his early political work interrupted his studies. He returned to finish his degree years later, earning his bachelor's degree in 2024 while serving as county executive, becoming the first person in his family to graduate college.
Wife and Family
Crowley is married to Ericka Crowley, and the couple is raising three daughters in Milwaukee, ages 18, 9 and 6, as of this year. Crowley has said his family life shapes how he approaches policy, saying he thinks about issues like housing and healthcare as a father as much as an elected official. His middle daughter, Ava, has been known to carry her own campaign lanyard at her father's events.
Political Career
Before running for office himself, Crowley worked behind the scenes in Wisconsin government and politics, including as the African American statewide organizer for a former U.S. senator's campaign, later serving as a legislative aide and policy director in the state Senate. He was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly's 17th District, representing Milwaukee's north side, in 2016, taking office in January 2017. During his time in the Assembly, he focused on mental health services, criminal justice and transportation policy.
In April 2020, in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, Crowley was elected Milwaukee County executive, succeeding Chris Abele. He took office that May at age 33, becoming the youngest person and first African American to hold the position. Crowley won reelection to a second term and has been endorsed by Gov. Tony Evers, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, the president of the Milwaukee Common Council and the chair of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.
As county executive, Crowley has overseen Milwaukee County's first countywide strategic plan in two decades, focused on racial equity initiatives, and helped secure passage of Wisconsin Act 12, a bipartisan measure that gave the county new revenue-generating tools. He has prioritized mental health services, addressing the opioid epidemic, and expanding affordable housing during his tenure. He currently chairs the Large Urban Counties Caucus of the National Association of Counties and is a member of the ACLU, the Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals and the Milwaukee NAACP.
The 2026 Governor's Race
Crowley entered the crowded Democratic primary for governor after Evers announced he would not seek reelection. The field narrowed significantly in the campaign's final weeks as several prominent candidates, including Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, dropped out, though both remained on the primary ballot. Crowley has campaigned on pragmatism and cross-aisle cooperation, listing healthcare, housing and education as his top three priorities if elected, while positioning himself against Hong, a state representative running as a democratic socialist.