BELOIT, Wis. — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore joined Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley at a Beloit rally Friday, urging voters to back Crowley and arguing that Wisconsin’s next governor will have an important role in responding to federal actions and addressing needs at home. About 120 people gathered at New Zion Baptist Church, where Moore said Crowley’s campaign should be judged not by the chance to make history, but by what he would do for residents. If elected, Crowley would become Wisconsin’s first Black governor. “Making history is not the assignment,” Moore told the crowd, pointing instead to reducing child poverty, expanding access to jobs and wealth, and getting “dark money out of politics.” Crowley, Milwaukee County’s executive, criticized the large sums being spent on the race. That money, he said, could go toward public schools, affordable child care and expanding Badgecare. “All that money we’re seeing being spent and dumped into these elections. We could be solving the very issues that we’re talking about,” Crowley said. Beloit is home to billionaire Diane Hendricks, one of three billionaires who have contributed millions of dollars in efforts to elect Crowley’s Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany. Crowley told reporters that Moore’s visit could help attract more supporters and carry his campaign “over the finish line.” Moore, who is seeking re-election in Maryland, campaigned with Crowley in Beloit, Racine, Kenosha and Milwaukee. He said Wisconsin’s gubernatorial contest was much closer than his own race, where polls showed him leading his Republican challenger by nearly 30 points. Crowley, by contrast, was maintaining a narrow, low-single-digit lead over Tiffany, according to the figures cited at the rally. The visit came about three weeks before Election Day. Former President Barack Obama endorsed Crowley the day before Moore’s campaign stops. New Zion Baptist Church Pastor James M. Ivy said the church welcomed the candidates because he believes Crowley would serve the city and state well. Ivy praised Crowley’s attention to jobs, housing and homelessness, and said he viewed the candidate as not backed by billionaires. Moore described Crowley as prepared to govern, citing his experience as Milwaukee County executive. The two met through outgoing Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, Moore said, and have discussed both the campaign and a potential transition to governing. Moore also argued that governors matter when state governments face conflict with the federal administration, including over election certification and state budgets. He criticized Tiffany for supporting President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which Moore said included deep health care cuts, and for backing Trump’s actions in Iran. The Wisconsin race is unfolding amid broader tensions between Trump and Democratic governors. Moore said his approach to dealing with the administration would be to work with anyone while refusing to be subservient. He advised Crowley to take a similar stance. Moore said he came to Wisconsin because he believes Crowley is the right candidate for the moment, and urged voters not to send Tiffany to the governor’s mansion.