David Crowley won Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor early Wednesday, defeating democratic socialist Francesca Hong in a stunning upset that underscored the political weight of incumbent Gov. Tony Evers’ endorsement. The Milwaukee County Executive captured 39.8 percent of the vote, narrowly edging Hong by less than half a percentage point in a race that no pre-election poll predicted.
Crowley had suspended his campaign in early July after struggling to gain traction in a crowded field. He re-entered the race just days later after securing Evers’ backing, a move that proved decisive. Evers, who holds a job approval rating above 50 percent according to a recent Marquette University Law School survey, campaigned with Crowley in the final weeks before the primary.
Hong, a state representative and democratic socialist, had led in every statewide poll entering Election Day, including surveys showing her with double-digit leads. Her loss dealt a significant blow to the progressive movement, which had been riding a wave of victories in New York, Colorado, and Michigan. The race was widely viewed as a test of whether democratic socialist candidates could replicate their success in deep blue states when competing in Midwestern battlegrounds.
Crowley’s comeback was aided by criticism of Hong’s past social media posts calling to abolish police and criticizing certain holidays. In the final month of the campaign, Crowley and Evers argued that Hong could not defeat Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in a general election. The Associated Press declared Crowley the winner early Wednesday after reporting delays in Milwaukee, Winnebago, and Green counties. The margin was slim enough that Hong could request a recount at her campaign’s expense under Wisconsin law.
Crowley’s victory sets up a November general election against Tiffany, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Crowley will be joined on the Democratic ticket by Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski as his running mate. At a Republican campaign event, some Trump supporters said they had hoped for a matchup with Hong, viewing her as more beatable than other Democratic candidates. Republican groups had spent millions on ads during the primary to boost Hong’s name identification in hopes of helping her win the Democratic nomination.
The outcome also reflected Crowley’s experience as county executive. He had ended his initial campaign in July after endorsing Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, who withdrew from the race days later after firing her campaign manager for what she called “serious mismanagement” of campaign finances. When Crowley re-entered, he emphasized his record running government and passing legislation directly affecting Wisconsin families, contrasting his executive experience with other candidates who remained in the race.
Sources
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — detailed account of Crowley’s comeback victory, the margin of 0.4 percent, Hong’s polling lead, and Evers’ endorsement impact
- Al Jazeera — confirmed Crowley’s 39.8 percent vote share and Hong’s 39.3 percent, described the race as a test of progressive victories in Midwestern battlegrounds
- PBS NewsHour — confirmed Crowley’s narrow victory over Hong and noted it as an upset outcome
- NBC News — confirmed the primary results and Evers’ endorsement of Crowley
- AP News — reported Crowley re-entered the race after Evers’ endorsement and that Evers initially declined to endorse before backing Crowley
- Ballotpedia — confirmed Crowley defeated Hong, Kelda Roys, and Joel Brennan in the August 11, 2026 Democratic primary
