Informed patriotic citizens will know more than their candidates’ names and political party affiliation on Election Day. Concerned citizens will compare the candidates before Election Day and share their observations with others thereby trying to persuade others to vote for their choice.

In the 2026 election for Governor between Republican Tom Tiffany and Democrat David Crowley there is much to consider. Then, since they run on a ticket with the Lieutenant Governor candidate, David Varnam the Republican and Sarah Godlewski the Democrat, there is even more to consider.

Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-7th) has been in Congress since 2022 after spending a decade in the State Legislature; first in the Assembly then in the State Senate. Tiffany and his wife owned and managed Wilderness Cruises excursion business for twenty years in northern Wisconsin. He additionally served on his town’s Board of Supervisors, has management experience in petroleum distribution, and was a dam tender for the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company. Tiffany grew up on a dairy farm near Elmwood, WI and graduated from UW-River Falls.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has filled that position since 2020 and previously served two terms in the State Assembly. Other career experience includes being a campaign organizer and a legislative aide. Crowley grew up in Milwaukee and eventually graduated from UW-Milwaukee. During the last few weeks before the partisan primary Crowley was accompanied everywhere he went by Governor Evers leading one to think that a Crowley administration might just be an Evers’ third term!

Since both are currently holding public office, their constituents might be a point of comparison. Tiffany’s constituents are all the citizens of the 7th Congressional District which spans 26 counties – 21 entirely and five partially. Crowley’s constituents all reside in Milwaukee County. One simple example might explain the significance. Tiffany is well known for his efforts concerning Wisconsin’s wolf problem which now extends to 39 counties (54% of the state’s counties). There are no known wolves in Milwaukee County.

Another comparison might be drawn from the recent partisan primary elections. In a two-way race, Tiffany received 95% of the Republican vote. In a seven-way race, Crowley received 39.8% of the Democrat vote – just barely beating the second place candidate by about .5% (less than 4,000 out of over 626,000 votes cast). Or, expressed differently, over 60% of the Democrats voting in the partisan primary voted for someone else! It might be noted that by Election Day three of the seven candidates had withdrawn from the contest to include both the sitting and previous Lt. Governors. It also might be noted that the second place finisher had led the last five significant polls before Election Day by an average of 22%!

A final comparison might be age. This brings to mind a presidential debate in 1984 when the 73-year old President Ronald Reagan commented “I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” At the time, former Vice President Walter Mondale was 56. Tiffany is currently 68 while Crowley is 40.

On Election Day we will vote for the ticket meaning the Governor and Lt. Governor are voted as a combined team and not individually. Thus, a comparison of the Governor candidates should include the LT Governor candidates as well.

The Republican nominee for Lt Governor is David Varnam, the former three-term Mayor of Lancaster – a small city in Grant County. He has previously served as a Congressional aide and as a federal policy aide for the global Christian ministry Focus on the Family. Varnam has been endorsed by Wisconsin Family Action PAC, Pro-Life Wisconsin PAC, and the Wisconsin Conservative Digest. He is committed to faith, family, freedom, and the conservative values that include a parent-involved quality education for all. In the recent partisan primary he beat the Republican Party of Wisconsin endorsed candidate by 55% - 45% to include 68 of the 72 counties.

The Democrat nominee for Lt Governor is the current Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski. She served just one term as State Treasurer. She was appointed to the Secretary of State position by Governor Evers after the long-term incumbent suddenly retired shortly after being re-elected. Her listed occupations include former national security manager, director of strategy and performance, investor, and entrepreneur. In the recent partisan primary she ran unopposed. In spite of serving in these two positions, her pertinent experiences seem lacking.

Compare these candidates and I am sure you will agree that the Tiffany-Varnam ticket is top-notched and better for Wisconsin than the Crowley-Godlewski ticket. Get informed and get involved. Recent polls would indicate there is a long hard campaign ahead, but together we can do what is right for Wisconsin and actively support Tiffany-Varnam!