The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

Wisconsin voters can vote their ideals and pocketbooks. I believe that Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley is the best candidate in both the Tuesday, August 11 Democratic primary and the general election on Tuesday, November 3. Before I make the case for Crowley let’s focus on the elephant in the room: can a Black win statewide in Wisconsin?

The answer is unequivocally yes. Wisconsin like any state has its share of bigots. However, Wisconsin is not a racist state. Crowley has already been elected as county executive of a county that is near majority White. Moreover, Obama won Wisconsin twice. And, let’s put a canard to rest. Trump is a racist, but many who voted for him are not. Millions of Trump voters, including thousands of Wisconsinites, had previously voted for Obama.

I am endorsing Crowley because he is the best candidate for governor. Crowley’s impressive election wins, experience and record check all the boxes. He has served as an executive and a legislator, critical to being a political leader. Democratic Governor Tony Evers knows what Crowley can do for Wisconsin: “I understand what’s required to run, win and govern in Wisconsin because I’ve done it – and I know David does too. I’m confident that he has the experience, the judgment and the record to build the coalition we need to defeat (GOP candidate) Tom Tiffany, and lead effectively from the very first day in office.”

Moreover, Crowley is a bridge builder. Despite sustained GOP attempts to divide Wisconsinites, Crowley wants an end to GOP-inspired partisan division: “We need to make sure that we can bridge this divide that we have been seeing between urban, suburban and rural communities all across this state because we are one Wisconsin. Coming from the largest urban center in the state of Wisconsin, I know that I cannot take our rural communities for granted.” Crowley doesn’t and fights for the economic interests of Milwaukee, suburbs and rural areas.

Crowley’s accomplishments will appeal to the entire state. As county executive, he “expanded affordable housing, strengthened public health, invested in public safety, delivered tax relief, modernized county government and helped pass Act 12, a historic bipartisan deal that secured Milwaukee’s fiscal future and sent revenue to municipalities across the entire state” (Crowley for Governor). Act 12 sharply reversed a generational decline of shared revenue. Crowley made certain that all Wisconsin cities, suburbs and rural areas got increased state monies to solve local problems.

It took courage, leadership and skill for Crowley to successfully negotiate with the GOP-led legislature. Until Crowley stepped up to the plate, the future was dire. He had to accept some restrictive Republican provisions and sell the compromise to voters. It’s easy to pontificate and promise the moon. Crowley had to deliver and did so.

The Crowley campaign is surging as elected officials and unions endorse his candidacy. His campaign has raised over $550,000 since reentering the Democratic primary for governor. There is energy, excitement and hope. Crowley will keep moving Wisconsin forward.

Kaplan wrote a guest column from Washington, D.C., for the Wisconsin State Journal from 1995 – 2009.