Former Vice President Kamala Harris joined Democratic governor candidate David Crowley at the Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee on Oct. 26, speaking to about 450 supporters at an event called Women for Crowley. The rally came just over a week before Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, faces Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in the Nov. 3 election.
Harris criticized Tiffany as an election denier and attacked President Donald Trump and his administration, then urged supporters to turn frustration into action and reminded them their voices matter. Crowley and his wife, Ericka, spoke before her about high gas and grocery prices, and Ericka Crowley described her husband as someone who understands struggle, noting his family was evicted three times before he finished high school.
David Crowley repeatedly tied Tiffany to Trump, saying Tiffany went to Washington and sold Wisconsin out to billionaire backers. Tiffany answered in a statement that Crowley wants to bring a California playbook to Wisconsin, and criticized Crowley's record on taxes and immigration. A Republican Governors Association spokesman made a similar criticism.
Early voting in Wisconsin runs through Nov. 1, with locations and hours varying by community. In Milwaukee County, 70,033 voters had cast ballots early in person or returned mail ballots as of Oct. 26, slightly below the 72,381 early votes at the same point in the 2022 midterm. One Racine rally attendee, Melinda Cunningham-St. Clair, said she now votes early in person because the crowds are calmer.
The latest Marquette University Law School poll gave Crowley a slight advantage, with a final poll due Oct. 28. Former President Barack Obama endorsed Crowley on Oct. 8, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore campaigned with him earlier this month, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is scheduled to campaign with him Nov. 2. Trump endorsed Tiffany in January but has not announced a Wisconsin visit. After the rally, Harris was set to headline an NAACP town hall at St. Mark AME Church in Milwaukee.
