Wisconsin's GOP gubernatorial candidate credits pilot's warning with saving his life before plane crash

The Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor credited a seatbelt with saving his life, as well as the Badger State’s hopes of preventing a Democrat dynasty in the crucial battleground state.

Rep. Tom Tiffany was the lone passenger on a single-engine Beechcraft K35 Bonanza owned and piloted by Len Boltz when the plane lost power over Lake Wausau on Saturday night.

“We are going down, pull your seatbelt tight," Tiffany said the pilot told him in a press conference Sunday, RedState reported.

"I pulled it good and tight — and about 10 seconds later we hit the water," Tiffany said.

Tiffany suffered relatively minor injuries, including 12 stitches above his right eye, but credited the split-second decision with saving his life. Boltz also survived the incident and was admitted afterward to Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

In an X post from his hospital bed, Tiffany recounted the episode in detail, crediting divine intervention for sparing his life.

“God was watching over us tonight, and I am incredibly grateful to be here in the hospital with my wife, Chris, by my side,” he wrote.

Tiffany is running against David Crowley, a Milwaukee County executive who hopes to extend the reign of far-left Gov. Tony Evers.

He has warned against Crowley’s radical record on taxes and crime. However, Crowley is viewed as a moderate relative to state Rep. Francesca Hong, the self-described mentally ill progressive candidate he defeated in the Democrat primary race whose inflammatory statements garnered widespread national attention.

Crowley, who enjoys a slight edge over Tiffany in recent polls, issued a statement expressing his relief that the tragedy was averted.

“I’m grateful to God that Congressman Tiffany and no one else was hurt in this horrifying incident, which could have been a tragedy if not for the heroism of the pilot,” he said. “I wish them and the Congressman a quick recovery and that they can find solace with their loved ones.”

Tiffany’s near-death encounter comes just a week after a scare involving Amy Acton, the Democrat squaring off against businessman Vivek Ramaswamy in the Ohio gubernatorial race.

Acton claimed to have been victim of an assassination attempt on Sunday, Sept. 6 while campaigning at the Canfield Fair.

However, video and witness accounts have since cast aspersions on that claim, suggesting the so-called assailant, who was unarmed, came nowhere near her.