Crowley defeats democratic socialist Francesca Hong

David Crowley defeats democratic socialist Francesca Hong in Wisconsin governor primary

His victory is a relief for establishment Democrats who had warned nominating Hong would hand the governor’s mansion to a Trump acolyte in November.

Meredith Lee Hill

Establishment-backed David Crowley narrowly defeated democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the Wisconsin governor’s primary early Wednesday morning, a major win for party leaders after a messy race defined by questions of electability and growing voter angst.

Crowley, the Milwaukee County Executive, had mounted a last-ditch effort with retiring Gov. Tony Evers to paint Hong as too extreme and, therefore, unelectable in a battleground state that President Donald Trump won by just shy of 30,000 votes in 2024.

And it marks a wild reversal in the race. Crowley had suspended his campaign in early July only to jump back in a few weeks later shortly after Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez was forced to leave the race amid a campaign finance scandal. Former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes dropped his own bid in late July.

He will face Trump-backed GOP Rep. Tom Tiffany in November.

“When we think about this state and how we move forward, we need someone who’s not just going to fight back, but ... who can also sit at the negotiating table and be able to work with folks who want to deliver for those that we represent,” Crowley said in a recent interview with POLITICO.

The result is a major blow to progressives’ hopes that a Hong victory would demonstrate the movement can deliver big wins in battleground states and pave the way for a progressive in the 2028 presidential race.

Hong said in a recent interview she would campaign with Crowley, should he win the nomination.