A Marquette Law poll, released recently, indicates a tight race for Wisconsin governor between Republican Representative Tom Tiffany and Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Tiffany has diverged from President Donald Trump recently on various issues including beef imports and naming changes for Lake Ontario.
The poll reveals Crowley leading with 49% of likely voters compared to Tiffany’s 46%, while 5% remain undecided. Among registered voters, Crowley has 46% support, Tiffany 45%, and 9% are undecided. The margin of error is 4.8% for likely voters and 4.3% for registered voters.
Midterm elections often test the political climate for the ruling party, with the president’s party historically losing seats. Republicans currently have a slim majority in both the House and Senate. The gubernatorial seat is presently held by Democratic Governor Tony Evers, who is retiring after two terms, making the seat highly contested.
“We’ve seen unprecedented spending from Trump-aligned billionaires, with three of them putting nearly $10 million into Tom Tiffany’s campaign and outside groups like Richard Uihlein’s super PAC and the Koch network adding more than $15 million more, and Wisconsinites are still choosing David Crowley because they know David gets it and has their back,” said Campaign Manager Garren Randolph. “Tom Tiffany isn’t running to serve the people of Wisconsin, he’s running to serve the billionaires…”
In response, Tiffany emphasized, “The more voters learn about David Crowley’s tax-hiking record, the more they’ll see how wrong he is for Wisconsin… I’m running to give more of it back. I’ll return the $3 billion surplus, lower property taxes, and cut income taxes by 10% for working families.”
Polls and Public Opinion
The recent poll shows Crowley maintaining lead among likely voters, with slight changes compared to last month. Tiffany’s support rose among Republicans, while Crowley’s Democratic support and favorability both saw a drop among independents.
Tiffany’s recent disagreements with Trump include opposition to renaming Lake Ontario and subsidizing data centers. He also stands against tariff waiver plans for imported beef, as it affects local farmers negatively.
Comparison with Other Polls
A poll by Platform Communications shows Crowley ahead by 4 points, and an RMG Research poll places Crowley with 46% against Tiffany’s 43%. The Cook Political Report labels the race a toss-up.