Representative Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin and David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, faced off on Wednesday over taxes, abortion and the influence of billionaires in a televised debate, their first and only one before the November election.
In Wisconsin, where statewide races are often decided by razor-thin margins, the debate was a crucial opportunity for Mr. Crowley to introduce himself to voters and for Mr. Tiffany to woo independents hesitant about his close ties with President Trump.
Polls show the candidates in a tight race less than two weeks from Election Day. Democrats hope to keep the governor’s mansion in their party’s hands — and possibly flip control of both the State Senate and the Assembly from Republicans to Democrats.
Here are four takeaways from Wednesday night’s debate, which was held at Marquette University in Milwaukee and hosted by a local news station, WISN 12.
Tiffany shied away from President Trump.
Early in the debate, Mr. Tiffany, who was endorsed by President Trump, did not directly answer when asked how voters could trust him to represent their interests when he is so closely aligned with the president.
Mr. Tiffany is one of the most conservative members of Congress, known for his strong support for gun rights and lowering taxes and his opposition to using taxpayer money for abortions.
“As a lifelong resident, I will make sure that we are going to do what’s right for Wisconsin,” Mr. Tiffany said, before pivoting to wish his wife a happy anniversary and reminiscing about their first date at the Thirsty Whale, a restaurant in Minocqua, Wis.
He did not mention Mr. Trump.
But Mr. Crowley did — frequently. He said that Mr. Tiffany was part of the Trump agenda in Washington, which he said includes tariffs, “endless wars” and high gas prices.
Both men said they supported marijuana sales and data centers, with limits.
The candidates sparred over how to improve the economy and bring in more revenue to Wisconsin, where families have pointed to affordability as one of the issues driving the governor’s race.
Mr. Tiffany said that he would support building more data centers under certain conditions: no more state subsidies, no increase in utility rates and a requirement that local communities be included in the decision-making process. He also insisted that no data centers be built “on our beautiful farmland here in Wisconsin,” a stipulation that seemed to open the door for building on former industrial sites.
Mr. Crowley, whom Mr. Tiffany has called “Data Center David” on the campaign trial, said that he supports a “pause” in data centers so that their environmental impact can be considered.
Both candidates were enthusiastic about legalizing marijuana — but with conditions.
Wisconsin, where marijuana is illegal, is now an outlier in the region. That has not stopped Wisconsin residents from driving into Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois and buying it in those states.
While Mr. Tiffany said he favored legalizing medical marijuana, Mr. Crowley said he supported full legalization of recreational sales as well.
“This is an opportunity that we’re missing out on as a state,” he said. Making a reference to Gov. J.B. Pritzker of neighboring Illinois, he added: “Look, Governor Pritzker literally thanked Wisconsin residents because they have made $30 million in sales tax collection just from Wisconsin residents.”
Crowley defended abortion rights — but hedged on a hypothetical.
On the campaign trail, Mr. Crowley has tried to draw attention to his support for abortion rights, in contrast to Mr. Tiffany, who has cosponsored a bill in Congress that would ban abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy.
Wisconsin currently bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and requires an ultrasound and a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion can be performed. About two-thirds of Wisconsin residents say that abortion should be legal in most or all cases, polls show.
On Wednesday, Mr. Crowley dodged the question when asked if he would sign a law that would expand access to abortion with no limits.
“These are decisions that need to be made between a patient and a health care provider,” he said.
Mr. Tiffany said that he had listened to feedback from constituents on the campaign trail who had urged him to find a “common ground.” In response to a question from the moderators, he said he would not sign a hypothetical bill that would ban abortion after fetal cardiac activity could be detected.
Billionaires vs. democratic socialists
Wisconsin is not overflowing with billionaires. But Mr. Crowley did his best to tie them to Mr. Tiffany, part of a continued line of attack connecting Mr. Tiffany to the rich and powerful in Washington.
“He’s working for the billionaires,” Mr. Crowley said. “He’s going to do anything and everything that they tell him to do because that’s who he’s been in the pockets of.”
At one point, Mr. Tiffany seemed fed up with the word.
“He’s misrepresenting our positions, and he’s over there ranting constantly about billionaires,” he said.
For his part, Mr. Tiffany tried to fuse Mr. Crowley’s positions as a Democrat with those of the opponent he defeated in the primary, Francesca Hong, who is a democratic socialist.
“He said, ‘There’s very little difference between me and Francesca Hong,’” he said. “That sounds like a socialist to me.”
Despite repeated pressing by the moderators, Matt Smith and Gerron Jordan, both candidates avoided specifics about how much they would raise or lower property and income taxes and how they would balance the state budget while also fulfilling pledges to make life more affordable for Wisconsin residents.
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