Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley will meet tonight in their only televised debate of the Wisconsin governor’s race, less than two weeks before Election Day.
The hourlong event is set for 7:00 pm at the Marquette University Law School and will air statewide on ABC affiliates, including WISN-TV in Milwaukee. Upfront hosts Matt Smith and Gerron Jordan will moderate and there will be no live in-person audience.
Recent Marquette University Law School polling has shown a narrow lead for Crowley among likely voters, with the race remaining within the margin of error and Tiffany making major gains among undecided voters over the past several months.
Organizers have said tonight’s debate will focus on the cost of living, taxes, immigration enforcement, data centers and election security.
Tiffany has centered his campaign on affordability and taxes. He has pledged to reverse the effects of a 2023 budget veto by Evers that extended school-funding revenue limits far into the future, describing it as a “400-year property tax increase,” and then to pursue a statewide property-tax freeze. He has also proposed a 10% state income-tax cut for households earning under $150,000, elimination of state taxes on tips and overtime, and return of the state’s budget surplus to taxpayers.
Tiffany has pointed to significant property-tax levy increases under Crowley in Milwaukee County and a near-doubling of the county’s sales-tax increase as evidence that Crowley would implement an unaffordable tax-and-spend liberal agenda if elected.
On immigration, Tiffany has called for full cooperation with federal authorities and a ban on sanctuary policies. He has highlighted statements by Crowley describing himself as an “accomplice” to immigrants and Crowley’s opposition to local law enforcement entering agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or honoring ICE detainers.
Crowley has emphasized investments in schools, child care and health care as ways to ease household costs, along with a public option for BadgerCare. He has supported a state constitutional amendment protecting abortion access and has said he would seek to repeal Act 10, the 2011 law that limited collective bargaining for most public employees. Tiffany, who voted for Act 10 as a state senator, has said repealing it would raise taxes.
Both candidates have said they oppose a blanket ban on data-center development but differ on conditions and incentives. Tiffany has called for ending tax subsidies for such projects, protecting farmland and ensuring utility rates do not rise for existing customers.
Crowley has said communities should decide whether projects proceed and has favored requirements such as 100% clean energy and union labor. Just days ago, he flip-flopped on whether or not he would sign a data center moratorium.
The debate is the sole debate ahead of the November 3rd election after other proposed events fell through.
Hearltand Post Editor-in-Chief Dan O’Donnell will be hosting a live post-debate show as soon as the debate ends at roughly 8:00 this evening. Check it our here at HeartlandPost.com, on our YouTube channel, or our Facebook and X streams
