MADISON – Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley is backing Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez after his withdrawal from the Democratic primary for governor, according to a source close to the campaign.
The Democratic primary has turned into a three-way battle of top contenders with Rodriguez seeking to consolidate support among the field’s more moderate candidates as she attempts to overcome the popularity and name ID of the race’s frontrunners, state Rep. Francesca Hong and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.
Rodriguez also received the endorsement of former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Missy Hughes, who left the race in June.
Rodriguez on Wednesday also announced she had received the endorsement of the Operating Engineers Local 139, which represents nearly 12,000 members.
“Sara Rodriguez understands that utilizing skilled union labor to build Wisconsin means we are investing in safer communities, stronger local economies and good-paying jobs,” Terry McGowan, president of Operating Engineers Local 139, said in a statement.
Crowley’s withdrawal comes the same week Rodriguez announced a $1 million ad buy and a week ahead of a campaign finance report filing deadline, which will give voters a look at how much support each candidate has in the final weeks of the primary race.
A new statewide poll on the race conducted by the Marquette University Law School also will be released on July 22.
In addition to Hong, Barnes and Rodriguez, candidates Kelda Roys and Joel Brennan remain in the race. The wide-open Democratic field emerged after Gov. Tony Evers announced a year ago he would not seek a third term as governor.
Polling has shown Brennan and Roys trailing the rest of the field. When asked whether they see a path to winning in light of Crowley’s departure from the race, a Roys spokesman said, “We definitely see a path to victory and believe this race will come down to the wire.”
Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: David Crowley to endorse Sara Rodriguez after ending governor campaign
Reporting by Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
