Elections
Wisconsin governor candidates spar over diesel and gas prices amid farm cost crisis
PN Team • 1 month ago
Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley launched a statewide tour blaming Republican rival Tom Tiffany for record-high diesel prices in Wisconsin, visiting a Kewaunee County farm with U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Farmer Clark Riemer described 2025 as his worst farming year in 35 years, citing soaring fuel and fertilizer costs tied to geopolitical instability, including U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran that disrupted fertilizer pricing.
Crowley criticized Tiffany's House votes against resolutions to end the Iran conflict, arguing the ongoing war has driven up fuel costs and hurt farmers. Tiffany countered by attacking Crowley's record on taxes and budget shortfalls as Milwaukee County executive, framing his own platform around tax cuts to ease affordability pressures.
Wisconsin diesel prices reached $6.56 per gallon, worsened by refinery outages in Illinois and Indiana and Russian export bans following Ukrainian attacks on refineries. Both candidates support repealing the state's minimum markup law on gasoline, though industry representatives dispute claims that repeal would meaningfully lower prices, noting crude oil costs are the primary driver of pump prices.
Sources:
Sentiment
- Iran Iran is linked to geopolitical instability and conflict that disrupted fertilizer pricing.
- Israel Israel is mentioned in connection with strikes on Iran contributing to market disruption.
- Democratic Party (United States) Crowley, a Democrat, is depicted leading a policy tour, a neutral factual reference to the party.
- Republican Party (United States) Tiffany, a Republican, is criticized for votes on Iran resolutions, a mild negative association with the party.
- United States House of Representatives Tiffany's House votes are cited critically, tangentially implicating the institution.
- United States The United States is mentioned only as context for fuel price and policy discussions.
- Wisconsin Wisconsin is the central setting for the political and economic dispute, described factually.