Gov.-elect David Crowley says he’d sign a bill that immediately redraws Wisconsin’s congressional maps if passed by the Democratic-run Legislature early next year.
“Right now I’m focusing on putting the transition team in place to make sure that we’re going to be ready on day one and to deliver results for Wisconsinites all across the state of Wisconsin,” Crowley told WISN 12’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics-State Affairs. “But just to put a nail in the coffin when it comes to this, if the bill was to reach my desk, I will sign it.”
Crowley wouldn’t commit to passing any specific pieces of legislation in his first 100 days, including what he would like lawmakers to take up first.
“I just want to make sure that we’re doing what we heard from Wisconsin,” Crowley said. “We’ve been on this campaign trail, and that’s tackling the affordability crisis. They want to see their property taxes lower. They want to see us investing in public schools. They want childcare and healthcare to be both affordable and accessible, and I look forward to working with our Democratic trifecta in order to get it done.”
The outgoing Milwaukee County executive said he’ll have more to share about his agenda shortly after his inauguration.
“Right now, my biggest focus is making sure we are ready on day one, and in order to do that we have to make sure that our transition team is in place to do that,” Crowley said.
Crowley reaffirmed his support for reversing Act 10, the Scott Walker-era law that bans collective bargaining for most public employees. But he left the specifics up to lawmakers and said his administration would look at the potential impact, including on taxes.
“We’re going to couple all of this with a blue ribbon commission bringing Democrats, Republicans, tax experts, local units of government, business leaders, as well as labor unions to the table to focus on that long-term fix,” Crowley said. “We know that there are going to be a lot of people who continue to attack our workers across the state of Wisconsin, but our job is to make sure that this is a place they can see a future that they can afford.”
Crowley dismissed the idea of being a rubber stamp for the new Democratic-controlled Legislature. Republicans took control of the chambers 16 years ago.
“Look, I’ve served as a county executive, and you just can’t be a rubber stamp,” Crowley said. “You have to work with all of your elected representatives and local communities to make sure that you are delivering real results for everyone in Wisconsin.”
As county executive, Crowley also said he was aware of Milwaukee County’s $4.6 million budget shortfall and budgeting error ahead of Election Day. The error was revealed to county board supervisors the day after he won, but the county’s budget office had known for several weeks.
“We wanted to make sure that we were doing the best thing possible as far as giving as much information as possible to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors,” Crowley said. “Yes, there was an error, but we wanted to make sure we could communicate what happened with that error, how we found a solution and how we fixed it moving forward.”
Crowley downplayed concerns over the shortfall not being publicly disclosed until after the election saying, “It just happened to coincide with the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors budget meeting. That’s all it was.”
Dem strategist Joe Zepecki says legislative Democrats should “flood the zone” when they are sworn in in January.
“Do it very intentionally and strategically,” Zepecki told “UpFront.” “I would advise my Democratic friends to do things one at a time. Constantly communicate what you’re doing and why and stack victories. Don’t wait to try to put everything into the state budget where it’s harder to tell the story about what you’re doing. So if one day it’s cannabis, or one week, the next week it’s healthcare. If it’s healthcare that week, then next week it’s the minimum wage. You have to always be communicating and telling the story about how you are delivering for working people in this state.”
Zepecki, though, also offered a new warning to Democrats.
“It was a coast-to-coast repudiation of President Trump and MAGA,” Zepecki said. “The most important thing Democrats need to understand today is that does not mean it was a full embrace of Democrats. The challenge for Democrats now, with all of the seats they won, all of the state they now have full control over, is they have to deliver for working people, period. If they don’t, the winds of change will blow them right out of office.”
Meanwhile, Republican strategist Bill McCoshen said Wisconsin’s elections were nationalized “from the top to bottom.”
“The scary thing on our side is there was nothing we could have done,” McCoshen said. “They were about Trump. They were about affordability, in some respects about grift and corruption. But Republicans, in at least the state Assembly, have been successful and separating themselves from national narratives and past elections. They were not successful at doing it this time. Everything was about Trump, and our guys got wiped out.”
McCoshen previously served as chief of staff to Gov. Tommy Thompson.
“To Joe’s point, Tommy Thompson used to have theme weeks, and we got our message out not just in the state budget but on other issues that were important to us,” McCoshen said. “If Democrats do that, it will be tough for Republicans to push back on some things. I think they’ll find common ground on others, and if they won’t be able to, Democrats will have to defend those votes in two years.”
Former Gov. Scott Walker says he has no interest in running for U.S. Senate in 2028 if Ron Johnson doesn’t seek reelection, saying, “It’s not going to be me.”
“No, I’m 100% committed,” Walker told “UpFront” about his current role as head of Young America’s Foundation. “When I look at what I saw Tuesday with this massive shift of young voters to the left, I don’t think it’s permanent. I think there’s an opportunity to chip away. So we’re not letting up. But whether it was someone like me or anyone else in the future, conservatives can’t win in states like Wisconsin unless we make inroads.”
Walker said “there’s a whole bunch of names” of potential candidates if Johnson opts against seeking reelection.
“Even though I was shocked with the race of Bryan Steil, I still wouldn’t rule someone like him out,” Walker said. “I think he’s in, people forget that’s one of the most competitive congressional districts in the country. He’s done a fabulous job. I think it was just part of the tide out there. But whether it’s someone like him, a new candidate, someone in the business world, I think a fresh, young face would be positive for us.”
Walker campaigned with Tiffany in the final days of the election and pointed to the “overall climate” for the loss.
“Tom Tiffany worked his tail off,” Walker said. “He worked as hard as I’ve seen anybody work out there. I think he was on message. I think he had a good organization, grassroots. I think there was ample money.”
Walker added the bigger thing for Republicans is to make a clear case to voters that they’re listening to what they’re saying.
“It’s not going to be an easy path,” Walker added. “It’s going to be a couple of years in the wilderness for conservatives here in Wisconsin.”