So-Called Moderate Dem Candidate Apologized For His State’s ‘Stolen’ Land

The “moderate” Democrat running to be Wisconsin’s next governor thinks parts of the state he hopes to lead were built on “stolen” land. 

During his time leading Wisconsin’s most populous county, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley apologized for being on land he said was “stolen” from American Indian tribes. That comment was made during a so-called “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” event in October 2025, a commemoration designed to compete with the officially celebrated Columbus Day. 

“We’re recognizing the existence of folks who lived on this land before it was actually stolen from them,” Crowley said during an event with tribal officials in Milwaukee. “Indigenous people have taken care of these lands, understanding that these lands belong to all of us, and it’s important that we preserve it.”

The “stolen” land comment reemerges as Democrats seek to portray Crowley as a moderate after a contentious gubernatorial primary that saw him narrowly defeat democratic socialist candidate Francesca Hong. Hong faced backlash over numerous inflammatory comments, including her calls to cancel Thanksgiving. 

Crowley’s appearance at the “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” event was not the first time he said land in his home state did not belong to Badger State residents. In other official appearances, Crowley repeatedly gave land acknowledgements.

In a 2021 state of the county address, Crowley opened up his speech boasting about strides in “equity” made in the past year and with a land acknowledgement. 

“I’d like to begin by respectfully acknowledging where we reside here at the Milwaukee County Courthouse on traditional Pottawatomie, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee homeland right on the southwest shore of Mishigami,” he said. “We acknowledge that we stand on land taken from its rightful stewards as a small but necessary gesture towards honoring our native brothers and sisters.”

A similar land acknowledgement was given in the following year’s state of the county address where he nearly repeated the same sentence word for word.

Crowley’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment on whether he would give land acknowledgements if elected governor. 

The Wisconsin governor’s race, which features Crowley running against Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, is rated a toss-up by Cook Political Report. The candidates are running to replace outgoing Democratic Governor Tony Evers, who helped propel Crowley over the finish line during the primary.

After Crowley defeated Hong, Republicans quickly pivoted to point out his own history of pushing leftist ideology. The Democrat candidate blamed systemic racism for police shootings, fought against legislation to protect law enforcement, and declared Wisconsin the worst place in America to raise a black child.

Wisconsin GOP Chair Brian Schimming told The Daily Wire the “stolen” land comments reveal Crowley’s true ideological commitments.  

“David Crowley wants Wisconsin voters to believe he’s a moderate, but his own words and record tell a different story,” he said. “Crowley keeps showing us he’ll cave to the far Left, and no amount of moderate branding can hide it.”