Maryland Governor Wes Moore was scheduled to campaign alongside Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley at events planned for October 9 in Racine, Kenosha, Beloit and Milwaukee. The planned appearances would bring Moore's record on child poverty, economic development and public safety into a race entering its final month before Election Day. They followed former President Barack Obama's endorsement of Crowley, giving the Milwaukee County Executive planned support from national Democratic figures as he tries to close out a tight contest against Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany.
The schedule called for Moore to make stops in Racine, Kenosha, Beloit and Milwaukee on October 9. Moore made history in 2022 as Maryland's first Black governor and only the third African American ever elected governor in the United States, according to Ballotpedia, which also notes he served as an Army combat veteran and led the anti-poverty Robin Hood Foundation before entering elected office.
Obama Endorsement Lands a Day Earlier
The Maryland governor's trip followed closely on the heels of Obama's October 8 endorsement, which highlighted Crowley's early work as a community organizer and father while pointing to his record leading Wisconsin's most populous county, per WisPolitics. The former president specifically cited Crowley's experience balancing local budgets and expanding local job growth. Combined with Moore's swing through Racine, Kenosha, Beloit and Milwaukee, the two endorsements mark a concentrated push of outside Democratic star power into Wisconsin just weeks before voters decide the state's first open-seat governor's race in 16 years.
That opening exists because Governor Tony Evers chose not to seek a third term, a decision Hoodline covered last year. Crowley is Milwaukee County Executive.
Moore's Anti-Poverty Background
Before entering elected office, Moore led the anti-poverty Robin Hood Foundation.
Crowley has his own fiscal record to point to in Milwaukee. In Milwaukee County, he worked with lawmakers on bipartisan Act 12, which authorized a 0.4% county sales-tax increase and secured new revenues and resources amid a pension deficit and the prospect of public-service cuts.
A Race Defined by a Narrow Poll Lead
The surrogate push comes as the governor's race remains exceptionally close by nearly every measure except campaign cash. In late September polling by Marquette University Law School, Crowley held just a 49% to 46% edge over Tiffany among likely voters, with independent support for Crowley sliding from 55% in August to 44% in September as undecided voters grew, Hoodline previously reported. Independents make up roughly a third of the Wisconsin electorate, making that erosion a significant warning sign for Democrats even with Crowley still ahead.
Crowley's path to the general election was itself unexpected. He re-entered the race 24 days before the primary after Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez dropped out.
