Much like the Democratic primary for Michigan’s Senate race, Wisconsin’s Democratic contest for governor is beginning to unsettle party insiders. The race has shifted quickly over the past several weeks, and the turbulence has appeared to benefit one contender more than anyone else.
For many establishment Democrats, the preferred choice to succeed retiring Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers had been Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez. Her campaign, however, was recently put on hold after a campaign finance reporting controversy surfaced, involving overstated donation totals that left her acknowledging she had far less cash available than previously reported. Rodriguez’s exit came just 10 days after Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, viewed by some as a more moderate option, ended his own campaign and threw his support behind her.
That sudden shake-up sent party power brokers scrambling, and Crowley was soon persuaded to reenter the Wisconsin governor’s race. But almost immediately, fresh scrutiny followed, as reports emerged tying Crowley to a controversy of his own reminiscent of the Platner saga.
