In brief
In a tight race, David Crowley edged former state assemblywoman Francesca Hong to clinch the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin governor. The result interrupts a string of wins for insurgent left‑wing candidates in other states, including Minnesota and Michigan. Crowley’s comeback, backed by Governor Tony Evers, came after a brief withdrawal and a late surge in the polls. Hong, an advocate for progressive policies, has faced criticism over past remarks, limiting her appeal to moderate Democrats. The Wisconsin contest will pit Crowley against Republican Tom Tiffany, whose campaign emphasizes lower taxes and farm support.
David Crowley secured a narrow victory over former state assemblywoman Francesca Hong in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, stunning the party’s left‑wing momentum.
Crowley, Milwaukee County’s chief executive officer, led Hong by less than half a percentage point in live tally data, according to CBS News predictions.
His win follows a pattern of insurgent Democrats flipping races in Minnesota and Michigan, but marks a rare setback for the anti‑establishment wing of the party across the country.
Hong, a single mother and former chef, intended to become the first democratic socialist to govern Wisconsin, yet faced questions over past comments on police funding and the Thanksgiving holiday.
After briefly withdrawing to back a rival, Crowley returned to the race with Governor Tony Evers’s support, sparking a late surge that carried him through the polls.
In November, the governor’s race will pit Crowley against Republican Tom Tiffany, a U.S. congressman backed by President Donald Trump, who focuses on tax cuts, farm support and healthcare improvements.
The outcome could have broader implications for the balance of power in U.S. Congress during the upcoming midterm elections.
