2020 Milwaukee County Executive election

The 2020 Milwaukee County Executive election took place on April 7, 2020, following a primary election on February 18, 2020. Incumbent County Executive Chris Abele initially announced on May 14, 2019, that he would seek re-election to a third full term,^[1] but on October 16, announced that he would not do so.^[2]

A crowded field developed to succeed Abele, with State Senator Chris Larson, State Representative David Crowley, former State Senator Jim Sullivan, County Board of Supervisors Chairman Theodore Lipscomb, and Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy announcing their campaigns. Lipscomb challenged Kennedy's and Sullivan's nomination papers, arguing that they were legally insufficient.^[3] The Wisconsin Elections Commission agreed that their nomination papers were insufficient and ordered them removed from the ballot, a decision that was affirmed by the Milwaukee County Circuit Court^[4] and the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.^[5]

In the primary election, Larson and Crowley placed first and second, winning 36 and 34 percent of the vote, respectively, and advanced to the general election. Crowley ended up narrowly defeating Larson by a 1,026-vote margin, winning 50 percent of the vote. Larson ultimately declined to seek a recount and conceded to Crowley.^[6]

Primary election

Candidates

Chris Larson, State Senator, 2016 candidate for County Executive^[7]
David Crowley, State Representative^[8]
Theodore Lipscomb, Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors^[9]
Purnima Nath, nonprofit executive^[10]

Disqualified

Bryan Kennedy, Mayor of Glendale^[4]
Jim Sullivan, Director of County Child Support Services, former State Senator, 2011 candidate for County Executive^[4]

Results

Primary election results^[11]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Chris Larson	42,154	36.34%
	Nonpartisan	David Crowley	39,757	34.27%
	Nonpartisan	Theodore Lipscomb	19,252	16.60%
	Nonpartisan	Purnima Nath	14,217	12.26%
	Write-in		624	0.54%
Total votes			116,004	100.00%

General election

Results

2020 Milwaukee County Executive election results^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	David Crowley	96,714	50.05%
	Nonpartisan	Chris Larson	75,688	49.52%
	Write-in		837	0.43%
Total votes			193,239	100.00%

References

^ Spicuzza, Mary; Dirr, Alison (May 14, 2019). "Chris Abele is running for re-election as Milwaukee County exec. Will he face a challenger?". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
^ Spencer, Suzanne; DuPont, Amy (October 17, 2019). "Legislator throws his hat in the ring to be next Milwaukee County Executive". Fox 6 Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
^ Miston, Bill (January 20, 2020). "Theo Lipscomb asks state election officials to investigate signatures of 2 other county executive candidates". Fox 6 Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c Dirr, Alison (January 24, 2020). "Judge keeps 2 disqualified Milwaukee County executive candidates off the ballot". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
^ "Appeals court denies request to put two Milwaukee County exec candidates back on the ballot". Wispolitics.com. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. January 27, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
^ Brice, Daniel (April 14, 2020). "State Sen. Chris Larson concedes to Rep. David Crowley in the Milwaukee County exec's race". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
^ Dirr, Alison (November 12, 2019). "State Sen. Chris Larson files to run for Milwaukee County executive, fourth to enter the race". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
^ "Rep. David Crowley announces bid for Milwaukee County Executive". CBS 58. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. November 4, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
^ Kilmer, Graham (November 12, 2019). "Lipscomb Will Run for County Exec". Urban Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
^ "Purnima Nath announces candidacy for Milwaukee County executive". Fox 6 Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. November 19, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
^ "MILWAUKEE COUNTY - 2020 Spring Primary" (PDF). Milwaukee County Clerk. February 27, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
^ "MILWAUKEE COUNTY - 2020 Spring Election and Presidential Preference Vote" (PDF). Milwaukee County Clerk. April 21, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2025.

[1] Spicuzza, Mary; Dirr, Alison (May 14, 2019). "Chris Abele is running for re-election as Milwaukee County exec. Will he face a challenger?". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.

[2] Spencer, Suzanne; DuPont, Amy (October 17, 2019). "Legislator throws his hat in the ring to be next Milwaukee County Executive". Fox 6 Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.

[3] Miston, Bill (January 20, 2020). "Theo Lipscomb asks state election officials to investigate signatures of 2 other county executive candidates". Fox 6 Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.

[disqualified-4] Dirr, Alison (January 24, 2020). "Judge keeps 2 disqualified Milwaukee County executive candidates off the ballot". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.

[5] "Appeals court denies request to put two Milwaukee County exec candidates back on the ballot". Wispolitics.com. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. January 27, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2025.

[6] Brice, Daniel (April 14, 2020). "State Sen. Chris Larson concedes to Rep. David Crowley in the Milwaukee County exec's race". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.

[7] Dirr, Alison (November 12, 2019). "State Sen. Chris Larson files to run for Milwaukee County executive, fourth to enter the race". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.

[8] "Rep. David Crowley announces bid for Milwaukee County Executive". CBS 58. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. November 4, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2025.

[9] Kilmer, Graham (November 12, 2019). "Lipscomb Will Run for County Exec". Urban Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.

[10] "Purnima Nath announces candidacy for Milwaukee County executive". Fox 6 Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. November 19, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2025.

[11] "MILWAUKEE COUNTY - 2020 Spring Primary" (PDF). Milwaukee County Clerk. February 27, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2025.

[12] "MILWAUKEE COUNTY - 2020 Spring Election and Presidential Preference Vote" (PDF). Milwaukee County Clerk. April 21, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2025.

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