Republican Tiffany concedes Wisconsin governor's race to Democrat Crowley, AP reports

Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany conceded the race for Wisconsin governor to Democrat David Crowley late Tuesday night, and Crowley declared victory, the Associated Press reported. The AP also called the race for Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive.

The call follows earlier election-night returns. Poliwave's count, which draws on AP data, had Crowley ahead 55.2% to 44.8% with 50.3% of precincts reporting. Later in the night, with 75.3% of precincts in, its count showed him ahead 53.7% to 46.3%. Those tallies were not final.

The AP call does not by itself formally settle the contest. Under the rules for this question, the AP, Fox News and NBC must all call the race for the same candidate. If they do not, official certification decides. The reporting available so far does not confirm matching calls from Fox News and NBC, so the formal outcome still depends on those calls or on certification.

Bets on a Republican victory had already been low before the returns arrived. They held near the same level through late October, slipped on Oct. 28, and moved little through the weekend and Monday. On Tuesday night they fell sharply to a long shot as the count came in.

The result fits what polling suggested. A Marquette Law School poll released Oct. 28 put Crowley ahead 51% to 44% among likely voters, up from 49% to 46% in September. The pollster said the October lead was within the margin of error for the difference between candidates. The election-night count showed a wider gap than that poll.

The race was Wisconsin's first open contest for governor since 2010, because Democratic Gov. Tony Evers chose not to seek a third term. Crowley narrowly won the Aug. 11 Democratic primary. Tiffany had President Donald Trump's endorsement.

What comes next is confirmation. Fox News and NBC are expected to make their own calls, and the remaining precincts will finish reporting. If the three organizations name the same winner, the question is settled. If they do not, official certification will decide who won.