00:01Wow. Um, good morning.
00:03Good morning.
00:04You know, I always say that every day is a good day.
00:07In Wisconsin, it is a very good day.
00:10Um, we are joined right here at the Sherman Phoenix,
00:14a community symbol of rising from the ashes,
00:17rebuilding with vision, and fostering a brighter future.
00:21Today, I stand before the people of Wisconsin
00:24after we rose from the ashes.
00:25After we rebuilt this campaign with purpose
00:29and after people of Wisconsin decided that the bright future
00:33that working Wisconsin families deserve is worth fighting for.
00:38Today, I stand before you filled with gratitude,
00:41with humility, and hope as I formally accept
00:45the Democratic nomination to be the next governor
00:47of the great state of Wisconsin.
00:53Now this victory belongs to so many people.
00:56It belongs to every volunteer who knocked doors in the heat,
01:00who made phone calls late into the evening,
01:02who sent text messages and hosted neighborhood gatherings.
01:06It belongs to every supporter who contributed what they could,
01:09who shared our message, and inspired others to get involved.
01:13It belongs to every Wisconsinite who believed that their voice
01:17could make a difference.
01:19I want to thank Governor Tony Evers for his friendship,
01:22his leadership, and his belief that Wisconsin works best
01:26when working people come together to solve problems.
01:30Most importantly, I want to thank my wife, Erica,
01:33my better three-quarters, and the A Squad.
01:37None of this would be possible without your love, your patience,
01:41your sacrifices, and your faith.
01:44Public service asks a great deal of the people closest to us,
01:48and I will never take that for granted.
01:51Today is also a time to recognize everyone who participated in this primary.
01:57Democracy is stronger when people step forward to serve their families,
02:00their communities, and engage in spirited debate about how best to do that.
02:06To Kelda and Joe and every candidate who shared their vision for Wisconsin, thank you.
02:13They challenged all of us to think bigger about what our state can become.
02:17And I especially want to thank Representative Francesca Hall.
02:22Her campaign reminded people across Wisconsin that there are no long shots
02:27when it comes to believing in a better future and fighting to expand opportunities to every family.
02:33That kind of passion, it strengthens our democracy.
02:36And I look forward to earning their support in everyone who participated in this campaign as we move forward together.
02:43Over the past few months, you've heard a lot of people try to define this election as a battle between
02:50the left and the center,
02:51between progressives and the establishment, between insiders and outsiders.
02:57That narrative misses the entire point of what we're doing.
03:01Because when I traveled across Wisconsin, I didn't meet people who introduced themselves that way.
03:07I met parents wondering how they'll afford childcare.
03:12I met workers who want wages that keep up with the cost of living.
03:17I met farmers trying to preserve family traditions.
03:20I met small business owners trying to keep their doors open.
03:23And I met seniors who deserve security and dignity after a lifetime of work.
03:29I met young people who simply want a fair chance to build a life right here in this great state
03:35we call Wisconsin.
03:37We may not agree on every policy.
03:39We may not use the same labels.
03:42But we all want safe communities, strong schools, affordable healthcare, good paying jobs, and a brighter future for all of
03:50our children.
03:51And every one of us has something much bigger to unite around.
03:57And that is keeping MAGA extremism from bringing the chaos we see in Washington into our neighborhoods right here in
04:04the state of Wisconsin.
04:05From the very first day that I announced this campaign, I said the real threat wasn't any of my primary
04:11opponents.
04:12The real opponent has always been Tom Tiffany.
04:16That remains true today.
04:19Tom Tiffany stood with those who tried to overturn a free and fair presidential election instead of defending our democracy.
04:28He's worked in lockstep with Donald Trump to slash programs that Wisconsin families depend on, including SNAP and healthcare for
04:35our children, our seniors, and veterans, and working families.
04:38He backed harmful, costly policies like the war in Iran, while too many families right here, right at home, are
04:46struggling to make ends meet.
04:49He spends his time fueling culture wars because sowing division is much easier than delivering results.
04:56Wisconsin, we deserve better than politicians who divide us for their own political gain.
05:03We deserve leaders who wake up every single morning asking one simple question.
05:08How can I make life better for the people we serve?
05:14That's what this campaign has always been about.
05:16It's about affordability, making it easier to buy a home, lowering everyday costs, making childcare more affordable and available, growing
05:27an economy where hard work actually pays off.
05:31It's about care, making healthcare more affordable and accessible, supporting our caregivers, investing in mental health services, standing up for
05:42our veterans, our seniors,
05:43and every Wisconsinite who deserves dignity.
05:47It's about opportunity, creating the jobs of tomorrow, preparing students for careers that don't even exist yet.
05:56It's about supporting apprenticeships, technical education, higher education and lifelong learning, building an economy where success isn't determined by your
06:06zip code or your last name.
06:10So let me say this clearly.
06:12This election is not about insiders versus outsiders.
06:17It's not about the establishment versus progressives.
06:22It's about building something bigger than any one campaign.
06:26It's about building a movement, y'all.
06:28A movement that reaches every corner of Wisconsin.
06:32Urban neighborhoods and rural communities.
06:35Small towns and growing suburbs.
06:37Factory floors and family farms.
06:41Northwood communities and Lakeshore cities.
06:44A movement that believes the jobs of the future should be created right here in the state of Wisconsin.
06:50A movement that believes the Zerkers deserve respect, fair wages, and the freedom to organize.
06:56A movement that believes every Wisconsin family deserves the resources to thrive.
07:01A movement that believes every child deserves a world-class education in a fully funded public school with outstanding teachers
07:10in modern classrooms and every opportunity to succeed no matter where they live in this state.
07:16A movement that believes women, not politicians, should make their own health care decisions.
07:23A movement that believes protecting our land, our water, our environment is not just about today, but about a Wisconsin
07:31that we lead for the next generation of leaders.
07:34Now that this primary has come to a close, allow me to reintroduce myself.
07:45My name is David Crowley.
07:48I am a son of Milwaukee.
07:50I'm a community organizer by heart who has just happened to find himself in the halls of the State Capitol
07:57building at the head of Milwaukee County government for the last six years.
08:02My role to this moment wasn't perfect.
08:05It was hallmarked by childhood eviction, family addiction, and mental health struggles, and some very dark days where I didn't
08:13even know where I'm going to lay my head down that night.
08:16I know what it means to face hardship because I've lived it.
08:20I know what it's like to rely on public schools, to depend on opportunity, and to believe that if people
08:27invest in you, your future can improve and it absolutely can change.
08:32I've experienced setbacks.
08:35I've made mistakes.
08:37But I've also experienced the power of second chances, the strength of community, and the importance of leaders who never
08:46give up on people.
08:48Those experiences, it has shaped who I am today.
08:52They taught me that our government works best when we open doors for everyone instead of closing them.
08:58That leadership is measured by results, not rhetoric.
09:02And that every child deserves the same chance to succeed regardless of where they were born or what neighborhood they
09:08grew up in.
09:08That's why I've dedicated my life to public service, not public office.
09:15Because what we do isn't just about winning elections.
09:19It's about improving the lives of our neighbors.
09:23Because we know the most patriotic thing that we can do as Wisconsinites and as Americans is to see those
09:31who disagree with us as human beings, deserving the same rights and the same opportunities as everyone else.
09:38Instead of fearing those we cannot understand and letting that fear divide us, patriotism is doing the work to see
09:46the humanity in all of our neighbors.
09:48It is our work that puts our future generations first and prioritizes progress for all of us.
09:54So today, today begins a new chapter.
09:58Today, we get back to work.
10:02We'll knock on more doors.
10:04We'll have more conversations.
10:06We'll welcome Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and every Wisconsinite who believes in democracy, who believes in opportunity in moving our entire
10:16state forward.
10:17Together, we will build the broad coalition that this moment absolutely demands.
10:23Together, we will reject division.
10:26Together, we will reject extremism.
10:29Together, we will make history and write the next chapter of Wisconsin's story.
10:34One built on opportunity, compassion, hard work, and hope.
10:40And together, we will defeat Tom Tiffany.
10:46Thank you so much.
10:48Thank you so much.
10:50Thank you so much.
10:51Thank you to the people who knocked on doors.
10:54Thank you to every single corner of this great state.
10:57Because Wisconsin, we got work to do.
11:00God bless you all, and thank you for being here.
11:03God bless you.
11:04God bless you.
11:07We have time for a few questions.
11:10Could you talk about how you'll reach out to progressives without losing Margaret Court?
11:15Look, right now, our job, as we always said, come August 12th, was making sure that everybody had a seat
11:21at the table.
11:22So many people have felt like they've been on the menu because nobody has asked them to lend their voices
11:27to the solutions.
11:28And so I'm looking forward to working with every single candidate in all walks of life, no matter where you
11:35fall on the political spectrum,
11:36to make sure that we can defeat the MAGA extremists and Congressman Tom Tiffany this upcoming November.
11:45Good morning.
11:46Good morning.
12:06All the boats right.
12:07We're going to be making decisions to make sure that hardworking families across this state have more opportunities to thrive
12:14and not just survive.
12:25And again, I mean, this historic moment is not lost on me.
12:30But I'm not even thinking about that because we still got work to do.
12:33You know, the job is not done. The job is not finished.
12:36And so my job is not to become the first.
12:40And if I do become the first, my job is to make sure that I'm not the last
12:43and provide more opportunities for young men and women all across this state.
12:49From July 8th to July 18th, there was a crazy 10 days of review.
12:53What changed in your mindset about the state of the race for you to come back in?
12:56I mean, what does it also say about polls that didn't predict that this would be this type of race?
13:03You know, making the decision to suspend the campaign and come back in,
13:06both of those decisions was very difficult.
13:08But at the end of the day, we understood, not just my family, but this community,
13:12everybody across this state, the states were too hot.
13:15And right now, the states are still incredibly hot.
13:18No one, we can't afford anybody to sit on the sidelines when it comes down to this election.
13:22And so there's a lot of ups and downs that comes with campaigning.
13:26You know, whether you're running, you know, for city council or county board supervisor seats or governor.
13:32And I will tell you, ever since we have relaunched this campaign,
13:35I have not necessarily felt the lows because I felt the energy of communities all across this state
13:41as we were barnstorming, you know, community after community with Governor Evers.
13:45And so right now, my job is to make sure that we continue to capture this energy that we have
13:52seen,
13:53continue this momentum moving forward, building the broadest coalition
13:56to make sure that we prevail in November, keep the governor's seat blue,
14:01and make sure that we're electing Democrats up and down the ballot in November.
14:05Do you expect the other Democratic candidates, including Francesco,
14:09not coming together and supporting the campaign?
14:12Absolutely.
14:12We're going to be getting together relatively soon to actually start our unity tour.
14:17We're going to be getting together and saying that you admitted there were any
14:24policy difference between yourself and socialists.
14:27Are we going to embrace that message or are we going to try and do not that?
14:32What was the American perspective now being in that relationship
14:35that was said in terms of what we're going to do?
14:39Listen, we don't, I don't, me and Francesca Hong, we don't agree on everything.
14:43And if Congress, if the Congresswoman understood that he doesn't necessarily agree on everything,
14:47but you also come to the table to figure out how you build a winning coalition
14:51in order to make sure you're delivering for those that you represent.
14:54This campaign is not built on distractions and division as he wants to continue to focus on.
14:59And the biggest difference between me and the Congressman is that I'm loyal to the people of Wisconsin.
15:04I am not loyal to MAGA.
15:05And so I'm going to be focusing on delivering for the hardworking families here in the state of Wisconsin.
15:11That's how we're going to win in November.
15:12Last question.
15:24I will tell you, it's not that easy.
15:27But, you know, being an executive, the one thing that you realize is that you have to make sure that
15:31you hire great staff.
15:32And we're going to make sure that we're constantly in communications, doing what we need to do on the campaign
15:37trail
15:37while also taking care of my responsibilities as the Milwaukee County executive.
15:40But right now, for the next 80-plus days, we're going to be focusing on coalescing Democrats, independents, Republicans,
15:48and those who are afraid of having a MAGA extremist occupying our governorship.
15:53Our job is to make sure that we deliver for the state of Wisconsin.
15:56So that's what we're going to be focusing on.
15:58And we've been doing it thus far.
16:00We're going to continue to do that.
16:01Thank you so much for being here, y'all.
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