Milwaukee County Executive's Progressive Record Challenges 'Moderate' Image in Gubernatorial Race

Following a contested Democratic gubernatorial primary in Wisconsin, where Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley emerged victorious, his political profile has been subject to scrutiny. Despite being characterized by some as a more moderate choice over democratic socialist Francesca Hong, Crowley’s record in county leadership reveals a series of progressive policy implementations, particularly in areas of racial equity and environmental action.

Crowley's campaign promoted a track record of “getting things done” and offering “practical bipartisan solutions.” Similarly, some media outlets described him as a “mainstream Democratic alternative” during the primary, while others labeled him a “moderate Democrat” or suggested his victory signaled a resurgence for the party’s center-left.

However, a closer examination of Crowley’s policy stances shows significant overlap with positions typically associated with the Democratic Party’s progressive wing. During the primary, Crowley himself acknowledged common ground with Hong, noting to supporters that “there’s many things that everybody agrees on, right?” even while also stating there were areas where they “absolutely disagree.”

Policy Alignments with Progressive Stances

Both Crowley and Hong advocated for an increase in taxes on millionaires, the establishment of a $20 minimum wage, the expansion of union rights, and universal child care initiatives. Their environmental platforms also shared a key objective: Hong campaigned on making Wisconsin carbon-neutral by 2050, a goal mirrored by Crowley’s signing of Milwaukee County’s plan to reach net-zero emissions for county operations by the same year.

Equity Initiatives and Budgeting

Crowley’s tenure has also been marked by a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which further complicates his “moderate” designation. A central component of this focus is the integration of a Racial Equity Budget Tool (REBT) into Milwaukee County’s budgeting process. This tool is designed to serve as a “structured racial equity lens” for county departments, enabling them to evaluate how budgetary decisions might impact communities of color.

In his 2022 budget address, Crowley highlighted the consistent application of this tool, stating that all Milwaukee County departments had “once again” utilized it and were specifically asked how they would allocate additional funding “to specifically address racial equity.” The county's 2024 budget underscored this commitment, declaring, “Racism is a public health crisis in Milwaukee County,” and affirming that “The REBT is a structured racial equity lens for Milwaukee County departments to use to critically assess the impact of budget decisions on communities of color.”

Beyond budgeting, Crowley’s leadership also saw the transformation of the county’s Office on African American Affairs into a more comprehensive “Office of Equity.” This expansion broadened the office's mandate beyond African American communities to include “other communities of color, LGBTQ+ and people with varying abilities,” while enhancing accountability for the county’s existing racial-equity objectives.

Environmental and Climate Action

Environmental policy has been another cornerstone of Crowley’s administration in Milwaukee County. In April 2025, he officially endorsed the Milwaukee County Climate Action 2050 plan. This plan, developed under his leadership following the County Board’s adoption of a carbon-neutrality target in 2021, aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions for county government operations by 2050. This timeline aligns precisely with Francesca Hong’s proposed statewide climate agenda for Wisconsin.

Furthermore, in 2022, Crowley signed a resolution urging Wisconsin’s attorney general to pursue legal action against fossil-fuel companies, seeking damages for the environmental and climate-related harm inflicted on communities within the state. More recently, in April, he signed legislation that reaffirmed Milwaukee County’s dedication to the principles and goals outlined in the Paris Agreement, particularly in response to federal policy adjustments concerning climate initiatives.

While David Crowley was often presented as a more centrist option during the recent gubernatorial primary, his record as Milwaukee County Executive demonstrates a clear commitment to progressive policies, from comprehensive racial equity initiatives to ambitious climate action goals. These policy choices suggest a leadership approach that, in many respects, aligns more closely with the Democratic Party's left flank than with a traditional moderate platform.