OPINION:
The race for governor in Wisconsin may be one of the closest contests in the country. It will also be an important forecast for the 2028 presidential election, as Wisconsin will likely again be one of the top swing states.
Before the primaries, many of us believed that the final election would be a contest between Republican Tom Tiffany and state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist.
When Ms. Hong narrowly lost to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, some thought it would make things easier for Democrats in Wisconsin.
For most of the campaign, Mr. Crowley was polling in the low single digits. When Ms. Hong began to implode, however, Gov. Tony Evers helped revive the suspended Crowley campaign with an endorsement and a cash infusion. He and other backers hoped that Mr. Crowley would be an easier sell to Wisconsin voters.
What they did not account for is the disdain that most voters have for Milwaukee. Voters are concerned about high taxes, incompetence, failing schools and violent crime. They look at David Crowley and see someone who has failed to make things better on these issues in his jurisdiction.
They do not want the rest of Wisconsin to become as messed up as Milwaukee.
Appearing on NBC News recently, Mr. Crowley tried to deflect questions about his record and problems in Milwaukee. One of the most amusing strategies was trying to blame me.
Somehow, Mr. Crowley has overlooked the fact that I have not been the county executive in more than a decade and a half. Several people have held that role since I was in office.
During my tenure as Milwaukee County executive, we proposed a budget each year that froze or lowered the actual property tax levy. We balanced our annual budgets without raising taxes.
In contrast, property taxes continue to go up under Mr. Crowley. He raised the sales tax to the highest in the state. Yet the county budget is still projected to have a sizable deficit.
Now he wants to eliminate our Act 10 reforms. Had he used them more aggressively, he would not have had to raise taxes.
Under Mr. Crowley, incompetence nearly cost the county’s employees healthcare coverage. Milwaukee schools are some of the worst in the country, and crime continues to be a major problem for people living in the largest city in the state.
These are real problems, and voters are right to be concerned about efforts to bail out the capital at the expense of the rest of the state.
A casual observer of Wisconsin politics might note that being from Milwaukee County was not a problem for me when I was elected governor, but there are two important differences.
First, I was the guy who took on the Milwaukee political machine after a big pension scandal and won. Mr. Crowley, on the other hand, is a part of the Milwaukee establishment. The machine is firmly behind him.
Second, the Democrats put Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett up against me in that election. Mr. Barrett got nailed for his failure to take on the challenges in Milwaukee. We highlighted problems with taxes, schools, crime and the sewerage district. Even people who voted for Mr. Barrett as mayor had a tough time voting for him as governor.
College-educated suburban voters have become a challenge in the past few cycles. Raising legitimate concerns about the failure to do more on crime and education in Milwaukee will certainly appeal to these men and women.
As conservatives should be doing all across the nation, candidate Tom Tiffany proposed a series of measures to drive down costs. They are filled with good ideas, including lowering property taxes, a 10% income tax cut, no state income tax on tips or overtime, returning surpluses to taxpayers, lower utility costs, repealing the minimum markup on gas prices and helping the private sector create more well-paying jobs.
Mr. Tiffany has also announced a series of ideas to cut the red tape and lower housing costs.
The popularity of democratic socialism has grown because voters, particularly younger ones, are frustrated with high costs. Conservatives need real solutions to counter the false promises of these radicals.
A quick look at Mr. Crowley’s administration should wake people up to the reality that costs went up in his county and will do the same in the state if he becomes governor.
Conservatives must be on the offensive to have a chance this cycle, and they must show that market-based solutions are better than government-driven democratic socialism.
What happens in Wisconsin this November will be a key indicator of what happens in our nation in 2028 and beyond. We must share the truth with young people.
• Scott Walker is a columnist for The Washington Times. He was the 45th governor of Wisconsin and launched a bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. He lives in Milwaukee and is the proud owner of a 2003 Harley-Davidson Road King. He can be reached at swalker@washingtontimes.com.
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