In an upset, Francesca Hong was defeated Tuesday in Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary by David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive who some argue is better positioned to build the broad coalition needed to win in November in the swing state.
Crowley defeated Hong, who was aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, according to The Associated Press. He only recently reentered the Democratic contest and was backed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
Now, Crowley will face off against Republican nominee Rep. Tom Tiffany in November. The MAGA congressman campaigned with the backing of President Donald Trump, and the election will be one of the first tests of whether Democrats can win a competitive statewide race in Wisconsin after Trump carried the purple state in 2024.
Evers and others had said that Crowley promised the best chance of delivering the historically competitive battleground state.
Many had expected Hong to garner the Democratic nod as she surged during the campaign, becoming part of a wave of progressive candidates — some aligned with the DSA —who have prevailed in states such as Michigan, Colorado and New York.
Most of those candidates, however, are running in blue states. Wisconsin is much more competitive politically, and some Democrats worried about Hong’s electability in the fall.
Crowley had earlier dropped out of the race, but he jumped back in after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez exited the race in mid-July. Former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes also suspended his campaign in a major shake-up less than two weeks before Election Day.
Crowley and Evers spent the final sprint delivering the message to Wisconsin voters that Hong is too progressive to hold the state against Tiffany in November.
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