Moderate Democrat David Crowley has emerged victorious in the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary, with projecting a narrow win over democratic socialist Francesca Hong. The result marks a significant upset in a race where Hong had been widely considered the frontrunner. Crowley is now set to face Republican Representative Tom Tiffany in the November general election.
Crowley’s path to the nomination was marked by significant volatility. He briefly suspended his campaign in July, only to re-enter the race after concluding that his initial withdrawal was based on inaccurate data. “Today, I stand before the people of Wisconsin after we rose from the ashes,” Crowley stated Wednesday morning. He credited his campaign’s resurgence to a renewed sense of purpose and the dedication of Wisconsin families, while also thanking Governor Tony Evers for his leadership and friendship.
Reflecting on his victory, Crowley expressed humility and hope as he accepted the Democratic nomination. He also acknowledged his opponent, Francesca Hong, framing her campaign as a testament to the idea that “there are no long-shots when it comes to believing in a better future.” He added that the passion displayed during the primary process serves to strengthen the state’s democracy.
The race saw several major shifts throughout the summer. Initially, the field included former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes and Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez. Crowley had previously endorsed Rodriguez after suspending his own bid, but she withdrew shortly thereafter due to financial constraints. Barnes also exited the race in late July, citing the clear momentum behind Hong. His departure occurred amid reports that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel was investigating allegations regarding his conduct with young adult women. Barnes, who has not been charged with any crimes, has not publicly addressed these allegations.
As the contest narrowed to a head-to-head battle between Crowley and Hong, scrutiny intensified regarding Hong’s past social media activity. Posts from 2019 to 2021 surfaced in which she advocated for defunding the police, abolishing ICE and the U.S. Senate, and suggested “canceling Thanksgiving.” While Hong has since walked back her stance on the Senate and clarified her views on the holiday, these revelations became a focal point in the final weeks of the primary.
Crowley’s win represents a departure from recent trends that saw progressive candidates succeed in Democratic primaries across states like Michigan, New York, and Colorado. Governor Tony Evers, who actively campaigned for Crowley, celebrated the result on social media, calling the nominee the “future of our Party” and expressing eagerness to support his general election bid.
The upcoming gubernatorial contest is viewed as a high-stakes battle for both parties, particularly as Governor Evers is not seeking reelection. Wisconsin remains a critical political battleground, characterized by its narrow margins in the 2024 presidential election and a unique political landscape where the state is represented by one Democratic and one Republican senator.
Looking ahead to November, the Crowley campaign has signaled its intent to build a broad coalition. Political analyst Larry Sabato of the UVA Center for Politics noted that the race has shifted from a toss-up to leaning Democratic following the primary results. Crowley emphasized that he is “ready to get back to work” to secure a victory in the general election.
“And I look forward to earning their support, and everyone who participated in this campaign, as we move forward together.”
President Trump won by less than 1 point in 2024 and Wisconsin is one of only two states with one Democratic senator and one Republican senator.
Mandela Barnes, who lost the 2022 Senate race against Sen.
But he also had the backing of two-term Democratic Gov.
Crowley thanked Evers “for his friendship, his leadership, and his belief that Wisconsin works best when working people come together to solve problems.”
Angus King caucuses with Democrats, while the state’s other senator is GOP Sen.
Ron Johnson by one point, had thrown his hat in the ring, as well as Lt.
But Rodriguez dropped out days later after discovering her campaign had less money in the bank than previously believed.
Although Barnes had pulled out a surprise victory in the 2022 Senate primary as a progressive candidate and had previously won statewide in 2018, becoming the state’s first Black lieutenant governor, Hong, who was to his left, had risen to be the frontrunner.
With Wisconsin voters facing those hard-left choices on the ballot, Crowley then announced he would return to the campaign trail as a centrist Democrat.
Crowley said in a debate last month that he initially made the decision to drop out based on data, but “we were going off false data,” prompting him to return to the race.
Barnes then announced on July 30 — less than two weeks before the primary — that he would be dropping his bid, saying, “it’s becoming very clear who the Democratic nominee is going to be,” pointing to Hong.
That left the contest mainly between Crowley and Hong, thrusting the race even more into the national spotlight.
