New Wisconsin Poll: Crowley Leads Tiffany 46% to 42% in Governor's Race
Statewide survey also finds overwhelming support for school choice and accountability: 76% want greater access to public school options, and 85% want the same standards for all publicly funded schools
Released October 15, 2026 by CFC Action Fund. Poll conducted by YouGov among 2,000 Wisconsin adults, September 22–October 9, 2026. Margin of error ±2.6 percentage points.
Key Takeaways
Democrat David Crowley leads Republican Tom Tiffany 46% to 42% in the race for Wisconsin governor; 9% are unsure and 2% do not plan to vote (1,715 respondents).
43% of Wisconsin adults view Gov. Tony Evers favorably; 38% view him unfavorably.
76% support making it easier for families to choose a public school other than their assigned neighborhood school; 14% oppose.
Majorities view every type of school favorably: traditional public schools 65%, private schools 60%, public charter schools 55%.
85% support requiring all publicly funded schools to meet the same accountability standards for student outcomes; 8% oppose.
72% support restoring Wisconsin's previous academic proficiency standards; 9% oppose.
58% support closing or consolidating under-enrolled Milwaukee Public Schools; 56% support the state stepping in to manage the district.
A Competitive Race for Governor
MILWAUKEE, WI — A new statewide poll commissioned by City Forward Collective and CFC Action Fund finds a competitive race for Wisconsin governor, with Democrat David Crowley leading Republican Tom Tiffany 46% to 42%.
The survey, conducted by YouGov among 2,000 Wisconsin adults from September 22 to October 9, also finds broad agreement on several major education issues, including expanding access to public school options, holding all publicly funded schools to the same accountability standards, and restoring higher expectations for student achievement.
Among the 1,715 respondents included in the gubernatorial vote question, 46% support Crowley, 42% support Tiffany, 9% are unsure, and 2% say they do not plan to vote. The four-point margin underscores a competitive contest for the state's highest office.
The survey also finds that 43% of Wisconsin adults view current Governor Tony Evers favorably, compared with 38% who view him unfavorably.
Beyond the governor's race, the results reveal substantial agreement among Wisconsin residents about the direction of public education.
"While Wisconsin voters may be divided over who should lead the state, there's remarkable agreement about what families want from their schools," said Colleston Morgan Jr., President and Executive Director of CFC. "They want access to great schools, high expectations for every student, and the same accountability standards for every publicly funded school."
Wisconsin Families Want More School Options
The survey finds that Wisconsinites overwhelmingly support giving families more flexibility to choose the public schools that best meet their children's needs.
76% support making it easier for families to choose a public school other than their assigned neighborhood school, compared with just 14% who oppose.
The findings also show broad acceptance of different types of schools:
65% have a favorable view of traditional public schools.
60% have a favorable view of private schools.
55% have a favorable view of public charter schools.
63% define school choice as families being able to choose among traditional public, charter, and private schools, while 21% define it as choosing among traditional public schools within a district.
51% support expanding public charter schools, compared with 24% who oppose.
49% support Wisconsin's parental choice programs, compared with 38% who oppose.
The results suggest that Wisconsin residents do not view support for one type of school as incompatible with support for others.
At the same time, voters are clear that school quality matters more than school type. Asked to identify their top two education priorities, 52% chose ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education, while 41% selected preparing students for jobs and careers. Just 12% identified giving families more school options as a top-two priority.
"Families aren't interested in ideological fights over what type of school their children attend," said Morgan. "They want good schools, and they want the ability to choose the one that works best for their child. The focus should be on expanding access to quality options, not pitting one type of school against another."
Overwhelming Support for Equal Accountability and Higher Academic Standards
The poll also finds a striking consensus around school accountability and academic expectations.
85% of Wisconsin adults support requiring all publicly funded schools to meet the same accountability standards for student outcomes, including 49% who strongly support the policy. Just 8% oppose it.
Residents also favor restoring more rigorous expectations for student achievement:
72% support restoring Wisconsin's previous academic proficiency standards, compared with 9% who oppose.
39% say the state's current K-12 academic standards are too low, while 42% say they are about right.
Just 4% believe the standards are too high.
48% say Wisconsin public schools are not doing a good job preparing students for jobs and careers, compared with 39% who say they are.
"Parents want to know their children are learning what they need to succeed, and they expect every school receiving public dollars to be held to the same standard," Morgan said. "We should be raising expectations for our students, not lowering them."
Statewide Support for Addressing Milwaukee's School Challenges
The statewide survey also finds that Wisconsin residents want action to address the financial and enrollment challenges facing Milwaukee Public Schools.
A majority of Wisconsin adults — 58% — support closing or consolidating under-enrolled MPS schools, compared with 19% who oppose. Another 56% support the state stepping in to manage the district.
The results suggest that concerns about Milwaukee's education challenges extend beyond the city itself, with residents across Wisconsin expecting leaders to make difficult decisions to improve the school system.
"These findings point toward a straightforward education agenda: give families more access to great schools, hold every publicly funded school to the same high standards, and make sure education resources are being used effectively to support students," Morgan said.
About the Poll
The statewide survey was conducted by YouGov among 2,000 Wisconsin adults from September 22 to October 9, 2026. The online survey was weighted to represent Wisconsin's adult population by demographic and political characteristics. The reported margin of error is ±2.6 percentage points. The governor's race question was reported among 1,715 respondents and has a larger margin of error. The survey is of Wisconsin adults, not exclusively registered or likely voters.
Download the release as sent (PDF)
Where the Candidates Stand
See how David Crowley and Tom Tiffany describe their positions on private school vouchers, the federal scholarship tax credit, and school funding, in their own words: Where They Stand: Wisconsin Governor's Race.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Milwaukee voters can find registration, absentee ballot, and voter ID details on our Voting Information page.
CFC Action Fund is a 501(c)(4). This post reports public poll results and is not an endorsement.
In the News
CBS 58 reported the results on October 16. In that story, Marquette Law School Poll director Charles Franklin said YouGov is "widely recognized as the best in the business that does nonrandom samples."
Looking at the handful of polls released since the primary, Franklin said, "we see a range from a Crowley lead of about three points to about five points."
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading the 2026 Wisconsin governor's race in this poll?
Democrat David Crowley leads Republican Tom Tiffany 46% to 42%, with 9% unsure and 2% not planning to vote. The governor's race question was reported among 1,715 of the 2,000 Wisconsin adults YouGov surveyed from September 22 to October 9, 2026.
Who conducted the poll, and who commissioned it?
YouGov conducted the online survey. City Forward Collective and CFC Action Fund commissioned it.
How many people were surveyed, and what is the margin of error?
2,000 Wisconsin adults. The reported margin of error is ±2.6 percentage points. The governor's race question, reported among 1,715 respondents, has a larger margin of error.
Is this a poll of likely voters?
No. The survey is of Wisconsin adults, not exclusively registered or likely voters. It was weighted to represent Wisconsin's adult population by demographic and political characteristics.
Do Wisconsinites support school choice?
76% support making it easier for families to choose a public school other than their assigned neighborhood school, and 63% define school choice as choosing among traditional public, charter, and private schools. 51% support expanding public charter schools (24% oppose), and 49% support Wisconsin's parental choice programs (38% oppose).
What do Wisconsinites think about school accountability and standards?
85% support requiring all publicly funded schools to meet the same accountability standards for student outcomes; 8% oppose. 72% support restoring Wisconsin's previous academic proficiency standards, and just 4% say the current standards are too high.
What does the statewide poll say about Milwaukee Public Schools?
58% of Wisconsin adults support closing or consolidating under-enrolled MPS schools (19% oppose), and 56% support the state stepping in to manage the district.
Where can I see where Crowley and Tiffany stand on K-12 education?
CFC Action Fund's Where They Stand page compares the candidates' stated positions on private school vouchers, the federal scholarship tax credit, and school funding, in their own words.
Related
New Poll: Milwaukee Voters Want MPS to Close Under-Enrolled Schools Before Asking for More Taxpayer Money: the companion survey of Milwaukee voters
Our Positions: CFC Action Fund on parental choice, charter schools, the federal scholarship tax credit, and school funding