Crowley defeats democratic socialist Hong to face Tiffany in Wisconsin governor's race
The Hill · C · trust 55/100
Comments: by Julia Mueller - 08/12/26 2:25 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Julia Mueller - 08/12/26 2:25 AM ET Comments: Link copied NOW PLAYING Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has defeated democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the wide-open Wisconsin governor’s race, Decision Desk HQ projects.
Crowley, with support from retiring Gov. Tony Evers (D), pulled off an upset and bested HOng in a blow to the party’s far-left flank amid concerns that such candidates could be a liability for the general election.
Across the aisle, Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany easily won the GOP primary.
It’s a toss-up gubernatorial race in a state that President Trump carried in 2016 and 2024, which intensified debate about whether a progressive like Hong could win statewide as Republicans work to paint Democrats as too extreme.
Hong, backed by the Madison and Milwaukee branches of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). led Crowley by double digits in DDHQ’s polling averages ahead of the race. She’d snagged support from progressive Democrats, such as Reps. Ro Khanna (Calif.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.), but had drawn criticism for past stances and social media posts .
Crowley briefly dropped out of the race this summer but reentered with Evers’s endorsement. He’s emphasized his experience in local government and pledged to be a unifier for the Badger State.
The race winnowed after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez ended her bid last month – as did former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (D).
Hong’s loss is also a blow to the DSA, which had looked to Hong’s race as a key test of the movement’s strength beyond big, blue urban areas like New York City and Washington, D.C.
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