Crowley Defeats Hong in Wisconsin Governor Primary Upset
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley defeated democratic socialist Francesca Hong in Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, a stunning upset that reshapes the race for the state’s open governor’s seat and signals the limits of the progressive left in a critical battleground state. Crowley won with 39.8% of the vote to Hong’s 39.4%, a margin of just over 3,000 votes, according to WEAU.
The Associated Press called the race at 2:34 a.m. Wednesday, with all results unofficial until certified in the coming weeks. Crowley, 40, would become Wisconsin’s first Black governor if he prevails in the November general election against Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is endorsed by President Donald Trump and won his party’s primary decisively.
A Comeback for the Ages
Crowley’s victory marks one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent Wisconsin political history. Just over a month ago, he suspended his campaign, saying he had no path to victory, and endorsed Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez. But when Rodriguez dropped out amid a campaign finance scandal, Crowley re-entered the race on July 18 with the endorsement of outgoing Gov. Tony Evers, as Wisconsin Public Radio reported.
“This election is not about insiders versus outsiders, it’s not about the establishment versus progressives,” Crowley said in his acceptance speech in Milwaukee. “It’s about building a movement.”
Crowley’s path to victory was aided by a surge in fundraising after his re-entry. He raised more than $775,000 in his relaunched campaign, more than double what Hong raised, with nearly half of his funds coming from unions. Evers, who has served since 2019 and did not seek re-election, played a pivotal role in mobilizing Democratic donors and voters behind Crowley’s comeback.
“He’s earned this win and the accolades,” Evers said in a social media statement. “For now, we polka. Tomorrow, we’re back at work to win.”
The Progressive Wave Hits a Wall
Hong’s loss came as a blow to progressives who had seen a series of wins in recent primaries across the country, including Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City, Analilia Mejia as a U.S. representative from New Jersey, and Abdul El-Sayed winning the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan. The Wisconsin race was widely viewed as the next test of whether the progressive movement could succeed in a purple state, as The Guardian noted.
But national progressive leaders, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, sat out the Wisconsin race and did not endorse Hong. Her campaign, which ran on a platform of universal childcare, free school meals, and a one-year moratorium on data center construction, was also dogged by past statements about defunding the police and a tweet calling to cancel Thanksgiving.
Hong, a 37-year-old chef, bartender, state lawmaker and single mother from Madison, conceded gracefully, congratulating Crowley and urging her supporters to back him in the general election. “This campaign was not about getting one person into office,” she said in a statement. “It is about building a movement for permanent affordability and a government that puts working people first. Our movement is strong and the work isn’t done.”
Crowley welcomed Hong’s supporters, saying he looked forward to earning their support. “We may not agree on every policy,” he said. “We may not use the same labels, but we all want safe communities, strong schools, affordable healthcare, good-paying jobs, and a brighter future for all of our children.”
Republican Interference in the Democratic Primary
The race was also marked by unprecedented Republican intervention. The Republican Governors Association spent nearly $3.6 million through its Right Direction Wisconsin PAC on advertising involving Hong, in what Democrats argued was an effort to boost her candidacy because Republicans viewed her as easier to defeat in November, as WEAU reported.
The ads contrasted Hong with Trump while highlighting her liberal positions. Crowley and other Democrats argued the advertising was intended to bolster Hong among Democratic primary voters. “They’re spending millions trying to prop up someone they believe they can beat,” Crowley said.
A Chaotic Primary Season
This was the first open race for governor in Wisconsin in 16 years. The primary field initially had seven Democrats, but several dropped out: Missy Hughes, Sara Rodriguez amid her campaign finance scandal, and Mandela Barnes amid questions about inappropriate behavior. Results from about 28,000 absentee ballots from Milwaukee were delayed until early Wednesday morning after a human error related to uploading data, and Crowley’s narrow lead grew after the results were posted, according to The Associated Press via WEAU.
Crowley, a native of inner-city Milwaukee who grew up experiencing eviction and drug addiction in his family, became the youngest and first Black Milwaukee County executive in 2020. He played a prominent role in negotiations with Evers and legislative Republicans over a massive rewrite of Wisconsin’s system for funding local governments, which cleared the way for Milwaukee County to raise its sales tax.
What’s at Stake in November
Wisconsin is a fiercely contested battleground state, with five of the last seven presidential elections decided by less than one percentage point. Republicans have controlled both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature since 2011, and Democrats are hoping for a trifecta — winning the governor’s office and both chambers for the first time since 2010.
Crowley will face Tiffany, a congressman from conservative northern Wisconsin who voted against certifying the 2020 election results and has raised $4.6 million, with about $4 million coming from the Republican Party of Wisconsin. Tiffany dismissed Crowley’s win, saying “there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between these Democrat candidates.”
Crowley framed the general election as a fight against MAGA extremism. “Our ultimate goal is to make sure we don’t have a MAGA extremist occupying the governor’s office,” he said. He also emphasized his appeal to independents and Republicans “exhausted by MAGA.”
The stakes extend beyond Wisconsin. The governor certifies presidential election results, and Democrats view the race as critical to protecting American democracy. As the general election campaign begins, all eyes will be on whether Crowley can unify the Democratic coalition and prevail in one of the nation’s most closely watched gubernatorial contests.