Wisconsin Veterans Deserve a Governor Who Shows Up

On the 61st Honor Flight, a man stood at the Vietnam Memorial and found his Uncle Carl’s name etched in that black stone. The same black stone where I once stood, running my fingers over the names of the brothers and sisters I lost.

When I first heard County Executive David Crowley share that story, I could hear it in his voice. His commitment to veterans is deeply personal.

Last week was National Salute to Veteran Patients Week, honoring veterans receiving care at VA facilities.

In 2026, Wisconsin faces a clear choice when it comes to who will fight for those who fought for us.

Tom Tiffany voted against the PACT Act, which expands VA health care for veterans exposed to toxic substances. He voted against the EVEST Act, which would automatically enroll eligible veterans into VA health care. He voted against the VA Employee Fairness Act. And when the Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act needed support, he was silent.

Over 300,000 veterans call Wisconsin home, and they deserve a governor who won’t turn their back on them.

As County Executive, David Crowley has shown what real leadership for veterans looks like. He has helped veterans access VA healthcare and provided grants for those facing financial, health, and housing crises. He has invested $45 million in affordable housing, making sure to include dedicated units for low-income veterans. He has provided funding to Dryhootch—our veteran-led nonprofit offering peer support that saves lives. He has added veterans’ benefits specialists to county services. He has invested millions in small businesses, many of them veteran-owned.

That’s the kind of Governor David Crowley will be: Veterans like me can trust that, because he’s already proving it. Though his Uncle Carl never came home from Vietnam, David honors his memory by fighting for all of those who served.

That’s the leader we all deserve.

Otis Winstead, President and CEO, Great Lakes Dryhootch

A veteran supporting David Crowley for Governor