Wisconsin business leaders say Tom Tiffany failed pledge test for governor

A bipartisan coalition of Wisconsin business leaders released a digital advertisement on Monday stating that Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany has disqualified himself from the race. The group argues that his history of challenging election outcomes makes him unfit to lead the state. They invited both candidates to sign a pledge committing to basic democratic principles. Democratic candidate David Crowley signed the document, agreeing to all questions. Tiffany refused to sign.

The pledge asked candidates whether they would accept election results, protect election workers, and respect the right of every eligible voter to cast a ballot. The ad notes that Tiffany declined to commit to these standards. The business leaders contend that this refusal signals a lack of respect for the electoral process. They argue that the governor's office requires a commitment to finality in voting matters.

Tiffany's record dates back to the 2020 election. He was one of only two Wisconsin members of Congress who voted to overturn the presidential victory in Arizona and Pennsylvania. He also joined 120 Republicans in signing a lawsuit challenging results in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected that lawsuit. Despite these actions, Tiffany has not retracted his claims regarding the 2020 vote.

The ad points out that recounts, audits, and courts confirmed the 2020 results. It states that Tiffany tried to throw out those results anyway. The group references a January 2024 report by the Congressional Integrity Project. That report identified Tiffany as a key election denier whose claims contributed to the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The business leaders say his unwillingness to apologize for these events is a permanent mark on his record.

Since returning to office in 2025, President Donald Trump has questioned election integrity on 460 days. The New York Times reported that this covers 70 percent of his second term. Trump has repeatedly called the 2020 election rigged and stolen. He has also suggested the 2026 midterm election will be rigged. Trump endorsed Tiffany's campaign, stating that Tiffany has always been at his side.

In May 2026, Tiffany supported an FBI investigation into the 2020 Wisconsin election. This move aligned with the Trump administration's desire to probe the process. He also supported an 1.8 billion dollar fund to compensate those affected by the January 6 events. Tiffany said he would want to look at the harm done to victims and consider if they should receive compensation. The business leaders view these actions as evidence that he still believes fraud occurred.

Tiffany finally offered a statement in early October. He admitted that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. He promised to certify the results of the 2028 presidential election if he becomes governor. However, he did not apologize for his previous false claims. In a recent debate, he cited money donated by Mark Zuckerberg to Wisconsin local governments as a reason for his objections. He has not explained why this funding was a factor in 2021 or how it led to voter fraud.

Governor Tony Evers has questioned whether Tiffany has truly changed his views. Evers stated that he does not believe Tiffany has changed. He said Tiffany's vote to overturn the result makes him unfit for the office. Evers called the action out of bounds and said Tiffany should never be governor. The business leaders echo this sentiment, warning that an election denier in the governor's office poses a major risk to Wisconsin's economy.