Gubernatorial Candidates David Crowley (D) and Scott Walker (R)
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala (R), a lifelong Republican with deep roots in the Kenosha County GOP, went to Democratic State Rep. Ben DeSmidt’s (D) annual Pig Roast at Union Park Tavern on Saturday to support Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley (D) in his campaign to become Wisconsin’s next governor. Crowley later highlighted the Kenosha event on his Facebook page, prominently featuring a photograph of himself with Bogdala.
The event wasn’t simply a chance encounter between two elected officials. DeSmidt’s annual Pig Roast was advertised as a campaign fundraiser “leading up to the November election,” hosted by Ben DeSmidt for Assembly – District 65. The event was held in the backyard of Union Park Tavern, 4520 8th Ave. in Kenosha. Crowley, the Milwaukee County Executive and Democratic nominee for governor, has been actively campaigning across Wisconsin in recent weeks.
Bogdala’s support of Crowley presents a striking contrast with the mayor’s lengthy Republican history. Bogdala has described himself as a MAGA Republican, has portraits of Republican President Ronald Reagan in his home, has said he has never voted for a Democrat and once held an actual leadership position with the Republican Party of Kenosha County.
Bogdala wasn’t merely someone who reliably voted Republican. Before his election to the Kenosha Common Council, he served as Sergeant-at-Arms for the Republican Party of Kenosha County. A surviving Republican Party slate lists “David Bogdala — Sergeant-at-Arms” alongside the organization’s other officers. KCE also documented Bogdala’s former position with the county GOP in 2025 when he returned to a formal Republican gathering after more than a decade away. (Kenosha County Eye)
Bogdala carried those Republican credentials into his early years on the Common Council. KCE reported in 2022 that Bogdala advocated zero-percent tax increases, reducing government spending and streamlining city departments, fought to add police officers and firefighters to the budget, and opposed Kenosha’s streetcar. KCE also reported that Bogdala considered seeking Paul Ryan’s congressional seat in 2012 if Ryan became vice president. (Kenosha County Eye)
But perhaps no photograph illustrates Bogdala’s Republican political history better than one taken on February 23, 2010.
That day, David Bogdala and his wife, Linda Bogdala, who is now executive director at Brookside Care Center, personally welcomed then-Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker. A Republican Party of Kenosha County Facebook post featured the Bogdalas standing with Walker and declared, “Dave and Linda Bogdala with the next Governor of Wisconsin — Scott Walker!” Walker went on to win the election that November and remains Wisconsin’s most recent Republican governor.
Sixteen years later, the two images paint dramatically different pictures. In 2010, Bogdala was personally welcoming the Republican candidate seeking to become Wisconsin’s next governor. In 2026, Bogdala is supporting the Democratic candidate seeking that same office.
The contrast is even more significant considering Bogdala’s own longstanding position about partisan politics. During his years as an alderman, Bogdala would caution other aldermen, “Don’t get involved in partisan politics.” Bogdala himself largely stayed away from partisan politics for years as his ambitions at City Hall grew.
KCE examined Bogdala’s political evolution as far back as 2022. Bogdala began his political career as one of the relatively few Republicans on the Kenosha Common Council and frequently clashed with Democratic Mayor Keith Bosman. Over the years, however, his relationships with Democrats changed as Bogdala rose through the council’s leadership and eventually set his sights on becoming mayor.
Bogdala has also crossed party lines before. At a Republican gathering in April 2025, Bogdala was directly questioned about his previous endorsement of Democrat Peter Barca for Congress. Bogdala defended the endorsement by saying that although he disagreed with Barca on issues, Barca had always been responsive when Bogdala needed assistance as an alderman. “For me, it’s about who picks up the phone,” Bogdala told the Republican audience.
That April 2025 event seemed to mark Bogdala’s return to his Republican political roots. After more than a decade away from formal Republican Party gatherings, Bogdala attended the Republican Party of Kenosha County’s “Pints and Politics.” The party’s current Sergeant-at-Arms introduced Bogdala as “the City’s first conservative mayor in history,” and Bogdala discussed public safety, development and his administration’s accomplishments. When asked about the 2020 unrest, Bogdala answered unequivocally: “It was a riot.”
Bogdala closed that Republican appearance by telling the crowd, “The best is yet to come.”
Now, less than a year and a half later, Bogdala is supporting the Democratic nominee for governor.
Crowley clearly considered his Kenosha visit worth showcasing. On his Facebook page, Crowley posted photographs from DeSmidt’s Pig Roast and wrote, “What an evening at Rep. DeSmidt’s annual Pig Roast! Thanks for having me Ben, it was a great night full of delicious food, music, and good company.” The largest photograph in Crowley’s post featured Crowley face-to-face with Bogdala, with Bogdala holding Crowley’s arms.
The political setting is important. Crowley isn’t simply another Democratic officeholder with whom Bogdala must interact while serving as mayor. Crowley is the Democratic nominee for governor in a partisan statewide election, and DeSmidt’s Pig Roast was explicitly promoted as a fundraiser leading up to November’s election.
Bogdala won a competitive mayoral election in 2024, and Kenosha’s mayoral office is officially nonpartisan. Since taking office, however, Bogdala has increasingly moved in partisan political circles on both sides. Just this past Thursday, Bogdala was advertised as the featured speaker at the Kenosha County Democratic Party’s monthly membership meeting.
That is a remarkable change from the Republican alderman who once cautioned his colleagues against getting involved in partisan politics.
Bogdala is likely to face another difficult mayoral election, and some people who have known him politically for years believe his increased involvement with Democrats is an effort to broaden his appeal among Democratic voters before he again faces Kenosha voters. Bogdala has not publicly said that is his motivation, and that interpretation remains exactly that — an interpretation of his changing political activity.
What can be documented is the contrast.
On February 23, 2010, David and Linda Bogdala stood with Scott Walker while the Republican Party of Kenosha County enthusiastically proclaimed Walker “the next Governor of Wisconsin.” Bogdala would go on to build a political career around a conservative Republican identity and eventually serve as an officer of the county Republican Party.
Sixteen years later, Mayor David Bogdala is supporting David Crowley, the Democrat who wants to become Wisconsin’s next governor.
For a lifelong Republican who once told other aldermen, “Don’t get involved in partisan politics,” the two photographs certainly paint two very different pictures.
3 Responses
Sgt at arms isn’t a title any coward should hold.
He’s a terrible mayor and I sure hope someone
Strong will run against him
Kevin run for mayor