Broadcaster Crute latest Dem to challenge Walker
MADISON - Liberal broadcaster Mike Crute is announcing a run for governor Tuesday, becoming the latest Democrat to join the crowded primary and seek to take on GOP Gov. Scott Walker.
Since 2012, Crute has been one half of the Devil’s Advocates radio show along with his friend Dominic Salvia, and in 2017 Crute purchased WRRD-AM (1510) in Waukesha and has been running it as a liberal talk radio station.
Crute said he is stepping into the race for governor after months of frustration watching other Democratic candidates. He said with a fragmented primary field and his radio platform he believes he has a chance at winning the Democratic nomination.
“This is sincere. This isn’t a stunt,” Crute said. “If the Democrats aren’t going to take this opportunity to beat Scott Walker then I’m going to.”
After working in journalism early in his career, Crute built a property management business and then started broadcasting in his free time in the run-up to Walker’s June 2012 recall election.
In 2017, he took the risk of borrowing against his existing business to buy the radio station. He said he would make the biggest use of his radio assets allowed by state ethics and elections laws in the campaign, which will be initially chaired by Salvia.
Crute said he’d hired election attorney Shane Falk to help the campaign navigate these issues. Crute acknowledged it was a deliberately provocative move given that Falk has been criticized by Republicans for his work on the now-closed probe into Walker’s campaign for the former state Government Accountability Board.
“There’s going to be some boldness coming down,” Crute said of his plans.
The other Democrats running for governor include: state schools Superintendent Tony Evers; Madison Mayor Paul Soglin; Milwaukee businessman Andy Gronik; Rep. Dana Wachs of Eau Claire; former state Rep. Kelda Roys of Madison; statewide firefighter union leader Mahlon Mitchell; former state party Chairman Matt Flynn; Sen. Kathleen Vinehout of Alma; and political activist Mike McCabe.