Wisconsin families have been through a lot over the past several years — a pandemic, rising costs, economic uncertainty, and constant pressure on schools, healthcare, and household budgets. Through it all, Wisconsin has moved forward. The question on the ballot in 2026 is simple: do we keep moving forward, or do we go back?
The answer matters more than most people realize. The governor of Wisconsin signs or vetoes legislation that directly affects what you pay for healthcare, what your kids learn in school, whether your job comes with real protections, and whether your family can put food on the table. The 2026 governor’s race isn’t abstract. It’s about your life.
What Wisconsin Families Stand to Lose
- Healthcare coverage for hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin residents is on the line
- Food assistance that families, children, and seniors depend on faces serious threats
- Public school funding — already fought for hard — could be rolled back
- Workers’ rights to organize and negotiate for fair wages remain under pressure
- Tariffs and trade policies are already raising prices on everyday goods for Wisconsin families
Healthcare: Hard-Won Progress That Could Disappear
Across Wisconsin, hundreds of thousands of people have gained access to healthcare coverage over the past several years. For working families, that coverage isn’t a luxury — it’s the difference between getting care and going without, between manageable bills and financial catastrophe.
That progress is not guaranteed. Recent votes in Washington have sought to cut Medicaid, roll back the Affordable Care Act, and reduce coverage for the very people who depend on it most. One proposal alone threatened healthcare access for an estimated 275,000 Wisconsinites. Another vote against extending ACA tax credits would have pushed costs higher for roughly 60,000 Wisconsin residents.
A Wisconsin governor has real power here — power to protect state Medicaid programs, to push back on federal overreach, and to advocate for Wisconsin families in Madison and Washington alike. The question is whether the next governor will use that power to protect coverage or help dismantle it.
David Crowley has made expanding access to healthcare a cornerstone of his work as Milwaukee County Executive, investing in mental health services and working to connect residents with the support they need. As governor, Crowley has made clear that protecting healthcare access for Wisconsin families is a priority — not a negotiating chip.
Food Security: Nearly 700,000 Wisconsin Residents Are Watching
It is easy to think of programs like FoodShare — Wisconsin’s food assistance program — as a political issue. For the roughly 700,000 Wisconsin residents who rely on it, it is not political. It is groceries.
Recent federal legislation supported by some in this race would have threatened that food security for hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin families, including children, elderly residents, and veterans. Cuts to nutrition assistance don’t just affect individuals — they affect local grocery stores, food banks, and entire communities that feel the ripple effects when families can’t afford to eat.
David Crowley understands this firsthand. When federal FoodShare benefits were threatened by a government shutdown in 2024, Crowley responded immediately — mobilizing Milwaukee County, the City of Milwaukee, and community partners to launch a joint food drive that collected over $93,000 in monetary donations and more than 9,000 pounds of food to support families during a period of record demand at local food pantries. That’s what it looks like when a leader actually shows up for people.
Public Schools: Wisconsin’s Commitment to Its Kids
Wisconsin has a long, proud tradition of investing in public education. That investment is why Wisconsin consistently ranks among the top states for education outcomes, and it is why families across the state — from Milwaukee to Green Bay to the Northwoods — trust their local public schools to prepare their children for the future.
That commitment has faced real threats. During his time as a state legislator, one prominent candidate in this race voted for the largest cuts to public school funding in Wisconsin state history. Now, as a federal legislator, that same candidate has sponsored legislation to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education entirely.
Wisconsin families should ask: what does a governor with that record do to public education funding when given the pen to sign or veto the state budget?
Crowley’s record points in a different direction. As County Executive, he has invested consistently in youth programs, workforce development, and the next generation of Wisconsin workers and community members. He believes that what is good for Wisconsin’s kids is good for Wisconsin’s future — and that public education is a foundation worth protecting, not a line item worth cutting.
Workers’ Rights: The Freedom to Negotiate for a Fair Life
Wisconsin workers built the middle class. The ability to organize, to collectively bargain, and to negotiate for fair wages and safe working conditions isn’t a special interest — it’s a fundamental freedom that directly affects what Wisconsin families earn, what benefits they receive, and what kind of life they can build.
Those freedoms have been under sustained pressure. Legislation that stripped workplace protections from both public and private sector workers marked a painful chapter in Wisconsin history — one that many Wisconsin families are still living with. A return to that approach would mean lower wages, weaker benefits, and less power for Wisconsin workers at the bargaining table.
Crowley’s vision for Wisconsin starts with working families. His record in Milwaukee County includes consistent investment in workforce development, apprenticeship programs, and creating union jobs in the trades — because he believes that an economy that works for everyone starts with workers who are treated fairly and paid what they’re worth.
The Cost of Living: Tariffs Are Already Hitting Wisconsin Families
Wisconsin families are already feeling the effects of federal tariff policies in the price of groceries, household goods, cars, school supplies, and even beer. These aren’t future projections — they are happening right now, showing up in receipts at stores across the state.
Rather than pushing back on those costs, some candidates in this race have openly celebrated tariff policies, calling them “really good things” even as Wisconsin families pay more for everyday necessities. For a working family already stretched thin, that kind of indifference to rising costs isn’t just a policy disagreement — it’s a statement about whose interests a candidate actually represents.
Wisconsin families need a governor who understands the pressure of a tight budget because he has lived it — and because managing budgets responsibly has been the central work of his career. Crowley has demonstrated in Milwaukee County that you can protect essential services, keep taxes low, and still make the tough decisions that put families first. That’s the kind of fiscal leadership Wisconsin needs in the governor’s office.
What’s at Stake on August 11 — and November 3
The 2026 Wisconsin governor’s race will determine the direction of this state for years to come. It will determine who controls the pen on the state budget. Who can veto legislation that threatens healthcare, schools, or workers. Who represents Wisconsin families when the pressure comes from Washington.
Going backward — to an era of education cuts, Medicaid rollbacks, stripped workers’ rights, and indifference to rising costs — is not progress. It is not what Wisconsin families need. And it is not inevitable.
David Crowley is running for governor to make sure Wisconsin keeps moving forward. His record as Milwaukee County Executive — delivering the largest property tax cut in county history, improving the structural deficit by $73 million, protecting essential services, and showing up for families in crisis — is a preview of what forward-looking leadership looks like at the state level.
The primary is August 11, 2026. The general election is November 3. Both dates matter. Learn more about David Crowley’s vision for Wisconsin and sign up for campaign updates at crowleyforwigov.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is at stake for Wisconsin families in the 2026 governor’s race?
The 2026 Wisconsin governor’s race will directly affect healthcare coverage, public school funding, food assistance programs, workers’ rights, and the overall cost of living for Wisconsin families. The governor has the power to sign or veto legislation on all of these issues and sets the overall direction for state policy. With an open seat and no incumbent running, 2026 represents a genuine choice between moving Wisconsin forward or reversing hard-won progress.
How would cuts to Medicaid affect Wisconsin families?
Wisconsin has hundreds of thousands of residents who rely on Medicaid for healthcare coverage, including working families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Cuts to Medicaid would mean lost coverage, higher out-of-pocket costs, and increased pressure on hospitals and community health centers — particularly in rural areas where healthcare options are already limited. The governor plays a critical role in protecting Wisconsin’s Medicaid program from federal and state-level rollbacks.
What has David Crowley done to protect Wisconsin families?
As Milwaukee County Executive, Crowley has consistently prioritized working families — delivering the largest property tax cut in county history, investing in affordable housing, expanding mental health services, protecting public transit, and mobilizing community resources to support families during a federal food assistance crisis. His record demonstrates a pattern of showing up for families when it matters most, and making the hard budget decisions that protect essential services without passing costs to taxpayers.
