David Crowley wins Wisconsin governor's race
Democrat defeats Republican Tom Tiffany to become the state's first Black governor.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made

David Crowley wins Wisconsin governor's race
Photograph: CBS News (embedded from source)
What this story says
- Democrat David Crowley won the Wisconsin governor's race, defeating Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany.
- Crowley will be the first Black governor of Wisconsin.
- The election took place in a state described as a battleground.
- Crowley previously served as the Milwaukee County executive.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 32 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 5 of the 37 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
42/100
Craft
60/100
Hype
41/100
37 sources · methodology
Thin on the right so far
Only 2 of the 32 outlets with a published leaning rating that ran this story are rated right.
This story is still being watched, so it is a count and not yet a finding. Coverage keeps arriving for hours after an event, and a side that has published nothing this morning may publish by tonight. If it is still true when we stop checking, we will say so plainly.
Democrat David Crowley has won the Wisconsin governor's race, defeating Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany. Crowley's victory makes him the first Black governor in the state's history. He previously served as the Milwaukee County executive. The election was held in Wisconsin, a state described by multiple outlets as a battleground.
Disagreement on election timing
Multiple reports state that Republican Tom Tiffany conceded defeat on Tuesday. However, the Associated Press had not called the race at that point, and Democratic opponent David Crowley had not declared victory, according to digests from The Coast Reporter, Sudbury, StratfordToday.ca, and The Times-Tribune. Other reports indicate Tiffany conceded around 9:45 p.m. before the election was called, as reported by The Badger Herald.
What the coverage left out
None of the left-rated digests mention that David Crowley previously served as the Milwaukee County executive. The right-rated digest does not mention that Tom Tiffany is a Republican Congressman or that he is a Trump ally. None of the left-rated digests mention that Crowley previously served as the Milwaukee County executive.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 3 times, most recently on 4 Nov 2026, 05:45, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
14 rated outlets
- Left-rated reports highlighted that Democrat David Crowley defeated Republican Tom Tiffany to become Wisconsin's first Black governor. Digests from The Independent Online, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Rocky Mountain Outlook, Thorold Today, Bowen Island Undercurrent, The Times-Tribune, Wisconsin Examiner, The Coast Reporter, Sudbury, StratfordToday.ca, and thealbertan.com all stated Crowley's win and his historic status. The Independent Online noted Crowley defeated a "Trump loyalist," while Georgia Public Broadcasting mentioned the campaign focused on "lowering costs for working families" and bringing jobs to Wisconsin. The Times-Tribune, The Coast Reporter, Sudbury, and StratfordToday.ca reported that Tiffany conceded defeat on Tuesday, though the AP had not called the race and Crowley had not declared victory.
Centre
16 rated outlets
- Centre-rated reports focused on Democrat David Crowley winning the Wisconsin governor's race and defeating Republican Tom Tiffany. Digests from CBS News, Wausau Pilot & Review, Bloomberg, WIZM 92.3FM 1410AM, Wisconsin Public Radio, GazetteXtra, and WISN all reported Crowley's victory and his status as the state's first Black governor. CBS News, in its full report, identified Crowley as a "moderate Democrat" and Tiffany as a "top Trump ally." CBS News also noted that Crowley tied Tiffany to President Trump, who has a 60% disapproval rating in Wisconsin, and criticized Tiffany's vote against certifying the 2020 election. Wausau Pilot & Review mentioned the contest was the most expensive gubernatorial race in state history and that Crowley had suspended his campaign months earlier before making a comeback. WIZM 92.3FM 1410AM and CBS News described Crowley as rising from a childhood in one of the nation's poorest neighborhoods. Wisconsin Public Radio and GazetteXtra stated Crowley is the Milwaukee County executive.
Right
2 rated outlets
- The single right-rated report, a digest from The Gateway Pundit, stated that "scandal-plagued" Democrat David Crowley won the governor's race in Wisconsin, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover David Crowley wins Wisconsin governor's race?
- Of the 32 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 44% are rated left, 50% are rated centre, 6% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 37. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is David Crowley wins Wisconsin governor's race left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 32 rated outlets on this story, 44% are rated left, 50% are rated centre, 6% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of David Crowley wins Wisconsin governor's race biased?
- David Crowley wins Wisconsin governor's race is one event reported by 37 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which side is not reporting David Crowley wins Wisconsin governor's race?
- When we first saw this story, outlets rated right had barely covered it. Coverage accretes for hours after an event, so that is where to look rather than a verdict — the split above is the current count, and it is the one to read.
- Which outlets covered David Crowley wins Wisconsin governor's race?
- 37 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- Who won the Wisconsin governor's race?
- Democrat David Crowley won the Wisconsin governor's race, defeating Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany. Crowley's victory makes him the first Black governor in the state's history.
- What was David Crowley's previous role?
- David Crowley previously served as the Milwaukee County executive. He is now the first Black governor of Wisconsin.
- What was the political affiliation of Tom Tiffany?
- Tom Tiffany is a Republican Congressman and an ally of former President Donald Trump. He was defeated by Democrat David Crowley in the Wisconsin governor's race.
Read it at the source
37 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
14- Democrat David Crowley defeats Trump loyalist to become Wisconsin’s first Black governor (opens The Independent Online in a new tab)
The Independent Online — is The Independent Online biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Democrat David Crowley will be Wisconsin's first Black governor (opens Georgia Public Broadcasting in a new tab)
Georgia Public Broadcasting — is Georgia Public Broadcasting biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Democrat David Crowley defeats Trump loyalist to become Wisconsin’s first Black governor (opens Elora Fergus Today in a new tab)
Elora Fergus Today — is Elora Fergus Today biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Democrat David Crowley wins election for governor in Wisconsin (opens Bowen Island Undercurrent in a new tab)
Bowen Island Undercurrent — is Bowen Island Undercurrent biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Democrat David Crowley wins election for governor in Wisconsin (opens Thorold Today in a new tab)
Thorold Today — is Thorold Today biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Democrat David Crowley wins election for governor in Wisconsin (opens Rocky Mountain Outlook in a new tab)
Rocky Mountain Outlook — is Rocky Mountain Outlook biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Republican Tom Tiffany concedes defeat in Wisconsin governor's race (opens thealbertan.com in a new tab)
thealbertan.com — is thealbertan.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Republican Tom Tiffany concedes defeat in Wisconsin governor's race (opens StratfordToday.ca in a new tab)
StratfordToday.ca — is StratfordToday.ca biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 6 more
- Republican Tom Tiffany concedes defeat in Wisconsin governor's race (opens Sudbury in a new tab)
- Republican Tom Tiffany concedes defeat in Wisconsin governor's race (opens Coast Reporter in a new tab)
Coast Reporter — is Coast Reporter biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Democrat David Crowley wins the Wisconsin governor’s race (opens NBC News in a new tab)
- Republican Tom Tiffany concedes defeat in Wisconsin governor's race (opens The Times-Tribune in a new tab)
The Times-Tribune — is The Times-Tribune biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Crowley wins election, becoming Wisconsin’s first Black governor (opens Wisconsin Examiner in a new tab)
Wisconsin Examiner — is Wisconsin Examiner biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Democrat David Crowley will be Wisconsin's first Black governor (opens NPR in a new tab)
Centre
16- Democrat David Crowley defeats Trump loyalist to become Wisconsin’s first Black governor (opens Chicago Tribune in a new tab)
Chicago Tribune — is Chicago Tribune biased? Our profile of this outlet
- David Crowley speaks to supporters after Tom Tiffany concedes governor's race (opens KCRG in a new tab)
- Democrat David Crowley wins Wisconsin governor's race, defeating Trump ally Tom Tiffany (opens CBS News in a new tab)
- Democrat David Crowley wins election for governor in Wisconsin (opens WBAL in a new tab)
- Democrat David Crowley wins Wisconsin governor's race (opens Wausau Pilot & Review in a new tab)
Wausau Pilot & Review — is Wausau Pilot & Review biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Democrat Crowley Wins Wisconsin Governor Race, DDHQ Projects (opens Bloomberg in a new tab)
- Democrat David Crowley defeats Trump loyalist to become Wisconsin’s first Black governor (opens WIZM 92.3FM 1410AM in a new tab)
WIZM 92.3FM 1410AM — is WIZM 92.3FM 1410AM biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Democrat David Crowley makes history, defeats Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin governor's race (opens Wisconsin Public Radio in a new tab)
Wisconsin Public Radio — is Wisconsin Public Radio biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 8 more
- Democrat David Crowley makes history, defeats Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin governor’s race (opens GazetteXtra in a new tab)
GazetteXtra — is GazetteXtra biased? Our profile of this outlet
- David Crowley is projected to make history as the first Black governor of Wisconsin (opens WISN in a new tab)
- Republican Tom Tiffany concedes defeat in Wisconsin governor's race (opens Spectrum News in a new tab)
Spectrum News — is Spectrum News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- David Crowley to make history as Wisconsin’s first Black governor (opens WGBA in a new tab)
- David Crowley to make history as Wisconsin’s first Black governor (opens TMJ4 in a new tab)
- Democrat David Crowley declares victory in Wisconsin governor’s race over Trump ally (opens CFJC Today Kamloops in a new tab)
CFJC Today Kamloops — is CFJC Today Kamloops biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Wisconsin election: Crowley, Tiffany for governor being counted (opens WOFL in a new tab)
- Wisconsin election: Crowley defeats Tiffany in governor's race (opens Fox 6 now in a new tab)
Right
2- Scandal-Plagued Democrat David Crowley Wins Governor’s Race in Wisconsin * The Gateway Pundit * by Jim Hoft (opens The Gateway Pundit in a new tab)
The Gateway Pundit — is The Gateway Pundit biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Tiffany, Crowley await results as supporters gather in Wausau and Milwaukee (opens WLUK in a new tab)
Not rated
5- Democrat David Crowley wins election for governor in Wisconsin (opens Airdrie City View in a new tab)
Airdrie City View — is Airdrie City View biased? Our profile of this outlet
- David Crowley wins the 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial election (opens The Badger Herald in a new tab)
The Badger Herald — is The Badger Herald biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Democrat David Crowley defeats Republican Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin governor’s race (opens marquettewire.org in a new tab)
marquettewire.org — is marquettewire.org biased? Our profile of this outlet
- David Crowley becomes first Black person elected governor in Wisconsin history (opens milwaukeecourier.com in a new tab)
milwaukeecourier.com
- Decision Desk HQ Projects Crowley Wins the Governorship (opens Decision Desk HQ in a new tab)
Decision Desk HQ
How did this read?
About the coverage, not about the story. We do not ask whether you agree with what happened — we have no honest use for that answer.