All right, we're good. All right, David Crowley. Thanks for your time. Oh, thank you for having me glad to be here.
So immediately after the primary, it seemed like a lot of the commercials that attack ads against you, we're going to focus on data centers.
But recently, there's been a shift to affordability or taxes or crime. Do you think that's going to be the new standard line that this campaign is going to be waged on?
For the ability is the number one issue that you hear, no matter where you're going, whether you're talking housing, whether you're talking child care, health care, you name it.
Families are getting squeezed in every single direction. And the problem is that even if they aren't making more money, they're getting less because so much is so much more expensive nowadays.
And so our plan is the Badger Basics Plan to make sure that we can lower costs for our working families and get them better access to child care and health care, which is a stark contrast when it comes down to a
Congressman Tom Tiffany who is voted for the Canadian Terrace that are ravaging communities, our farmers and manufacturers all across Wisconsin.
So when you see Tom Tiffany and his allies going after you on crime or kids running around at the state fair, is that just same old, same old or what's your reaction to that?
Well, I don't trust Tom Tiffany when it comes down to public safety. I mean, we're talking about somebody who who voted against releasing the Epstein files who voted six times to defund police here in the state of Wisconsin.
And quite frankly, he praised the January 6 years when they were being parted with some of them actually being charged with child molestation and things of that nature.
You know, when it comes down to the way that I govern, this is about making sure that we're protecting everybody throughout the state of Wisconsin.
And I've done it as a county executive. We have increased costs for our public safety for our courts and to make sure we're investing upstream to stop crime from occurring in the first place.
How should vote in whether some issue that happens in the county is actually your responsibility versus just something that happens in the county where you're the
Well, I want to be very clear. When it comes down to this race, there are a lot of people who want to divide and distract from the issues that matter most.
As county executive, I've worked with Democrats and Republicans in the state legislature to balance budgets.
We've delivered the largest property tax cut in Markey County's history.
We have the lowest uncertain homeless count of per capita than any community in the United States, and we've lowered overdose death by by 40%.
And so I have a record of being able to deliver real results for not just Markey County residents, but for every single community across the state of Wisconsin.
Something that Congressman Tom Tiffany can't say he's done. He hasn't passed anything to make sure that when a tide rise, all the boats rise,
he's only defended the tears that have been in place and voted 100% of the time with Donald Trump, which has increased
everyone in Wisconsin and across this country.
Republicans have made a history of attacking Milwaukee in elections when it's necessary.
It's interesting to contrast you with the last governor from Milwaukee County, Scott Walker.
How would you compare and contrast your record with his as county exec and what you might do as governor?
Well, you know, they know me as a recycle man back home because we've picked up every single candidate they've kicked down the road for so long.
And quite frankly, I've had to work with the Republicans and Democrats in the state legislature to just clean up Scott Walker's best.
And you know, I want to make sure that we can do the exact same thing when I become governor of this great state.
We're stealing dignity and respect to our teachers who work in our public schools each and every single day,
making sure we're investing in childcare to make sure our children are getting a better foundation
of learning before they enter into our public school system and just making sure that we can coalesce,
bring people to the table when it comes down to the policies that we need here in the state of Wisconsin.
When it comes to the topic of affordability, there's different definitions of what's affordability when between Republicans and Democrats.
Republicans like Tom Tiffany want to talk about property taxes or income taxes.
Democrats are talking more about spending and tariff impacted consumer pricing.
Which do you think voters will relate to more?
Look, I'm a husband and a father raising three amazing girls.
And I grew up in a working class household.
So I know exactly what working families are going through right now.
Struggling to keep a roof over their head because their property taxes or the rents continue to rise.
We've seen many people lose their healthcare mostly because, you know,
Congressman Tom Tiffany voted for the big ugly bill, which cut a trillion dollars from Medicaid,
Medicare and reduced subsidies for the Affordable Care Act.
And so it's about tackling everything, right?
When I become the next governor of the great state of Wisconsin,
this is about making sure we're working with our local units of government.
We're working with our community members to lower those costs.
Something Congressman Tom Tiffany, he's not willing to do.
He hasn't been willing to sit down with reporters like yourselves and talk about a real plan to move forward.
But that's what's different about our campaign.
We want to make sure that you can lend your voice to the situations and the solutions
that's going to work for you and your community.
In January of this year, Tom Tiffany stood in front of a gas station
and had a tweet about how low gas prices were.
How does that tweet hold up today and how does that impact this race?
Well, I think that that that treat didn't get didn't age very well because we're now seeing
some of the largest increases in in gas today.
And that's why I have a plan to actually eliminate the minimum markup law that we have on gas,
which is increasing other prices for consumers each and every single day.
And the thing about this gas tax is that it's not supporting our small businesses or filling
the potholes. This is just guaranteed profit for big oil.
And I know it's a popular thing because even Congressman Tom Tiffany stole my idea of this
and it's leading people to think that it is his.
Look, at the end of the day, we have to make sure that we're lowering our costs.
And if Tom Tiffany wants to stand up, he needs to stand up to Donald Trump.
Again, this is largely a result due to the war in Iran.
And Tom Tiffany has voted to protect this war, protect those terrorists.
And we need him to answer as to why he is in fighting for Wisconsinites.
On the topic of data centers, you've been attacked as being too close to labor or supporting the
wind and renewable energy to power it.
But Tom Tiffany also voted for the Speed Act in Congress.
How should voters weigh the two positions of the two candidates?
Look, when it comes down to data centers, we are going to aggressively protect
our Wisconsin communities. We're going to protect our environment.
We're going to protect our water.
And we're going to make sure that local communities,
that their voice can be heard, that they have a seat at the table.
If they don't want a data center in their community,
they shouldn't be forced to have one and there's no if ands or buts about that.
And I'm extremely proud to have the support of the men and women in labor who build our
hospitals, who build our schools and who build the institutions that we call our home and we
have so much trust in.
But this is really about making sure that all workers have a seat at the table.
All community members have a seat at the table.
That's a stark contrast when it comes to Congressman Tom Tiffany.
You know, he voted for the big ugly bill that also provided 60,
$60 billion in tax breaks to these billionaire companies,
these tech companies that are steamrolling our communities today.
That free ride that they've been getting here in the state of Wisconsin,
it is over when I become the governor.
Another issue that's popped up recently has to do with flock cameras.
The speed with which these technologies are moving and communities are adapting to it.
How much should we hold against a politician?
A previous statement they might have made six months ago,
when law enforcement and other groups are now changing their minds reevaluating against them.
Look, we have been learning a lot when it comes down to these flock cameras,
not just here locally, but across the entire country.
And let's just be honest, we need greater transparency.
We need guardrails to this type of artificial intelligence,
to all artificial intelligence.
Something that Congressman Tom Tiffany doesn't believe in,
because he voted to actually ban state artificial intelligence regulations.
Look, we all need to have a seat at the table,
especially when it comes down to these flock cameras.
Within Milwaukee County, we have put guidance out there
to basically say that we need more guardrails,
we need a better process, and we need transparency.
And without that, these cameras will no longer be running.
And we need that same level of thinking and same policy
across the entire state of Wisconsin.
Another technology issue has to do with betting on elections
and some of these markets that exist out there.
Do you think it should be legal to bet on elections in Wisconsin?
And what are you doing to make sure your staff is not engaging in that activity?
You know, today we just rolled out a plan to actually stop corruption in government.
And one way to do that is making sure that elected officials,
those who work within government,
don't have the ability to actually invest or bet
on what government knowledge or on our politics here in the state of Wisconsin.
And so I do believe that we have to have guardrails,
and we have to instill trust for those members in the public
to have in their elected officials, to have in our regulators as well.
And so, yes, I do think that it should be illegal,
especially for elected officials and those who work in government,
not to be able to place bets on those prediction work.
One of the attacks that the Tiffany campaign is using now
has to do with tablets being given to inmates in Milwaukee County.
Explain that program and why you authorized its use again.
Well, this is a program that we implemented not too long ago.
And this is something that we take seriously,
and we've been working with our shares department as well.
But, you know, utilizing these tablets is actually a best practice.
They're used in 48 out of 50 states.
And, you know, what's unfortunate in what Tom Tiffany omitted is
that the fact that he actually voted for these types of iPads
of here in the Department of Corrections during the Scott Walker era.
He also admitted about the fact that Donald Trump and his administration
are utilizing this same exact program, and they just started this year, right?
And so, we know that we need to have the process and the procedures in place,
but, you know, Congress in time, Tiffany, he wants to continue to divide and distract.
When it comes down to public safety, you can't trust him on it,
because he's not willing to give you all the information.
Let's talk about the election and turnout.
What do you need for turnout in order to win this fall?
These traditionally Democrats want it as high a turnout as possible,
but that may include a lot of Trump voters or disaffected Republicans.
Do you still want as high a turnout as possible?
Look, I'm in this race not to be a governor for Democrats or a governor for Republicans.
I am looking to be a governor for all of us.
And it's not just my judgment that I bring to the table,
but I have the skillset and the experience of being able to build coalitions,
bringing together people across the political spectrum,
whether you're a Democrat, Republican, independent, or don't care about politics.
But we know that there are a lot of disaffected Republicans and independents,
as well as Democrats who don't feel like they have a political home.
Our job is to speak directly to the values and the affordability crisis that we know that is real.
It's not a host as Donald Trump and Tom Tiffany wants folks to believe.
This is really just affecting too many communities across the entire state.
And so I'm looking to make sure that I can be a governor for all of us.
But when it comes down to Tom Tiffany, I don't think that he's going to be a governor for all of us.
He has stood 100% of the time with Donald Trump.
He is not willing to buck up against the Republican Party
as they continue to so harm on working families here in Wisconsin and across America.
And so I just want folks to know that they're going to get a fighter in me.
They can look at me as they're Randy Newman. You have a friend of me.
Let's talk about Hispanic turnout because in 2024, that
demographic shifted heavily for Republicans. And Republicans seem to be counting on that
sticking around through this election. We've seen in some special elections and early voting
that it doesn't appear that they've stayed there. What's your message to the Hispanic community
and what the Democrats can offer them? You know, as county executive, I've had the opportunity
of representing the largest Hispanic community here in the state of Wisconsin.
And this is about making sure that folks have a seat at the table. And we have been working with
them, getting folks access to different types of services and programs as it relates to our
entrepreneurs, our small businesses, helping out our children or those who have been affected
by the immigration agenda of this federal administration. And so I want all of our communities,
all of our immigrant communities, no matter where they live in the state of Wisconsin,
to know that I'm going to fight for them. We're going to protect them from this federal
administration. And we're going to make sure that those who call this place home,
that they can see a future in Wisconsin moving forward. But you're not going to get that
for Congress in time, Tiffany, right? He has doubled down on everything that you have seen
Donald Trump doing. They just have affected our farmers who have seen their workforce being
massively affected by this immigration agenda. We have seen our school districts, especially in
rural communities where we have high Hispanic populations being affected. And so at the end of
the day, this is about how do we make sure that Wisconsin is moving forward and not backwards.
And you're going to get that with a Crowley administration. In the primary, you had really
strong support in a lot of rural and outstate Wisconsinites. How do you build on that and keep
those that support throughout the fall? You know, you have to meet people exactly where they are.
You know, one of my favorite quotes is by Teddy Roosevelt. You know, no one cares what you know
until they know how much you care. And as I've traveled all across the state, I've learned that
there are so many folks, no matter where they live, suburban, urban, or rural communities.
They love this state. They love the quality of life. And we need to make sure that they can
continue to see a future here. But there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for every single
community, right? What works in Wal-Sar may not work in Rhineland or Bayside or Superior or even
right here in Dane County. This is about making sure that all of our communities,
they have a seat at the table and they can lend their voices to the solutions that's going to
work for them and create that long-term stability and growth that we need. And that's what I look
forward to doing in the next couple of weeks. We're still waiting to hear what the U.S. Supreme
Court will do with the postal service rules that have been proposed by the Trump administration.
But what impact would that have on Wisconsin if those went through? And what advice would you give
to absentee voters about how they should handle their ballot this fall? Look, it is unfortunate
seeing what Donald Trump is doing when it comes down to mail-in voting here in the state of Wisconsin.
We have had the same laws on the books for decades, which have allowed people to cast their ballot
by mail or to do it in person. And we're going to continue to follow Wisconsin laws. But I want
to encourage everybody, one, if you're going to mail-in your ballot, do it early, do it quickly,
and do it as soon as possible. And if you feel like you're getting close to that deadline,
go visit your municipal clerk and drop your ballot off at your clerk to make sure that your
voice is being heard. As the governor, it is our job to make sure that we are protecting democracy,
protecting people's ability to cast their ballot, and to instill dignity. We have free and fair
elections here in the state of Wisconsin. And I'm always going to see, and Leah at the
mountains house, about how I believe in our election system. But you're not going to get
that with Congress in time, Tiffany. I mean, we're talking about someone who voted against
certifying the 2020 election for Wisconsin voters, someone who's not willing to stand up and say
Donald Trump actually lost the 2020 election. And he's not willing to stand up and say how
these laws, these policies that Donald Trump is putting in place, how they're going to hurt
many of our world communities. And quite frankly, they're going to hurt not just Democrats,
Republicans, independents, everywhere across this state. But our administration, we're going to
continue to fight on behalf of our communities to make sure that they can cast their ballot,
no matter where their arms go. When we sat down with Tom Tiffany, he did not want to say the word
Trump. And throughout our entire interview, when asked about that, he didn't want to use the
president's name. We've looked at his website. He stripped pretty much all mentions of the
president away from him. What does that say? Why, why would he be doing that?
I think he wants to run away. You know, you know, Congressman Tom Tiffany, he's been the
MAGA extremists wants to run away from the fact that he has been locked up with Trump for the
past decade. He has been one of the most conservative members that we've had here in the state of
Wisconsin being a part of the Freedom Caucus, but also not fighting on behalf of Wisconsinites.
Congressman Tom Tiffany cannot and will not defend his own actions nor defend why he's
protected this president. And that's why we need a governor who's going to stand up,
someone who's going to bring folks from all political factions to the table to make sure
that they can live healthy lives, productive lives, and put more money and save more money
in their pockets as we move forward. And that's what you're going to get in the next governor
when I'm elected on November 3rd. I want to talk about abortion real quick. Tom Tiffany
voted for the current law when he was in the legislation, but has proposed shorter restrictions
while in Congress. He says he wouldn't sign a bill that would change that. Do you think there
needs to be new legislation? Would you sign a bill that would change or extend the amount of time?
Well, first and foremost, we have to get rid of the abortion ban that is within the state's
Constitution. You know, I'm not just a husband, but I'm a girl at dad times three. And I want my
three daughters. I want them to have the same rights that their grandmother had, that their
mother had, not less. And so we do need better laws on the books when it comes down to abortion.
We just recently seen Planned Parenthood file a lawsuit here in the state of Wisconsin.
And I think it's an example that we have to do more to protect reproductive freedom here in Wisconsin.
We've seen a lot of polls about the national environment. How much of this race do you think
will be impacted by that environment versus just the head to head match up of you versus Tom Tiffany?
Well, we know that, you know, Wisconsin is we're one of the swingies of swing states. We're a
bellwether state and where Wisconsin usually goes is where we go as a country as well. And so I
know that this this election doesn't just have consequences here locally. This has consequences
a nationwide. And so I want to make sure that we can not only defeat a congressman Tom Tiffany
here in November, but I want to defeat the mega legacy in Wisconsin and help other communities do
that all across this country so we can get back to who we are and really start building towards
the future that we absolutely want. I know we talked to you right before the primary,
you said that you had a trip to Jamaica plan with your wife that you had to put on hold. Are you
hoping that that stays on hold permanently? That is the hope. Well, I do want to take a vacation
at some point, but you know, throughout this process, I will tell you that it has been an
incredible opportunity to spend this time talking to as many voters as it's possible across this
state. And you know, the one thing that I have absolutely learned is that definitely by travel
insurance, you know, you never know what's going to stop you from taking a trip. But right now,
it is money well spent after getting through this primary. And my job, as well as my wife,
Erica, and my three daughters, Alyssa, Ava, and Autumn, is to win this election. You know,
it's not it's not just me who is running. They are also sacrificing themselves and they're committed
to this state because they believe in the future that we and our share goes that we all have. And so
I'm looking forward to crisscrossing across this state. But at some point, when I do get a break,
I'm going to have to take them somewhere. But if we do, probably going to stay and stay
take them somewhere in the Northwoods. All right. David Crawley, thanks for your time.
No, thank you. Thank you for having me. All right. We are good. Thank you so much.
Thank you. Appreciate it.