Upset victory in Wisconsin
David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, has won the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, according to projections by CBS News and NBC News. He narrowly defeated democratic socialist Francesca Hong, with Crowley taking 39.8% of the vote to Hong's 39.4% with 98% of the expected vote counted, a margin of just over 3,000 votes. The race was so close that Hong could have requested a recount, but she conceded, and the Associated Press declared Crowley the winner.[S1][S2][S3][S5]
Crowley's victory marks a dramatic comeback, as he had suspended his campaign about a month ago before re-entering the race with the endorsement of outgoing Governor Tony Evers. He had initially struggled to gain traction, but his campaign and allied groups spent $4 million on ads, far more than his rivals. Crowley, who would become Wisconsin's first Black governor, pitched himself as the most electable candidate to beat Republican Tom Tiffany in November.[S1][S2][S3][S4]
Hong's progressive campaign falls short
Hong, a state assemblywoman, single mother, and former chef, had been seen as the frontrunner, leading in polls with a large share of voters undecided. She ran on a platform including universal childcare, free school meals, and a moratorium on new data centers. However, her past comments on police funding and Thanksgiving drew scrutiny, and she later walked back some of them. Prominent progressives like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez notably did not endorse her.[S1][S3][S5]
Hong's loss breaks a streak of wins for progressive candidates in Democratic primaries, including Abdul El-Sayed's victory in Michigan's Senate race last week. Her campaign manager said she was proud of the race they ran, and Hong told supporters that the work they did would be remembered forever. The result may ease fears among party leaders that such candidates could hurt Democratic chances in the general election.[S1][S2][S5]
General election matchup
In the November general election, Crowley will compete against Tom Tiffany, a U.S. congressman endorsed by President Donald Trump. Tiffany's campaign focuses on tax reduction, farmer support, and healthcare improvement. The election is anticipated to be highly competitive, with significant implications for Congressional control.[S1][S2][S3]
Tuesday's primaries saw key races in Minnesota, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Peggy Flanagan secured the Democratic Senate nomination in Minnesota, while Darline Graham Nordone advanced to a runoff in South Carolina's Republican Senate nomination.[S1][S6]
