David Crowley won the Wisconsin Democratic primary for governor on August 11, narrowly defeating Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist state representative who had been favored heading into the race. Crowley secured 39.8 percent of the vote to Hong’s 39.3 percent, according to NBC News, a margin of roughly 3,000 votes in what was widely characterized as an upset.
Crowley’s victory defied recent polling and expectations. Hong had led in the final Marquette Poll released before the primary, showing her with 38 percent support among Democratic primary voters, and she had raised substantially more money for her campaign—roughly $709,000 compared to Crowley’s $250,000, according to reporting ahead of the election.
The turning point came when Crowley re-entered the race. He had dropped out in early July, but Gov. Tony Evers, a popular Democratic figure in the state, endorsed him and recruited him back into the contest on July 18. Evers and Crowley then crisscrossed the state in the final weeks before the primary, according to PBS News.
Hong’s defeat marked a setback for the democratic socialist movement, which had been gaining ground in Democratic primaries nationwide. She was a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and had positioned herself as the anti-establishment candidate in a field that included other progressive and moderate Democrats. According to the New York Times, her loss “may have shown the democratic socialist wave cannot reach beyond its base” and defied the momentum of recent progressive victories in other races.
Crowley’s comeback campaign centered on his experience as Milwaukee County Executive and his backing from the state’s sitting governor. Evers predicted Crowley’s victory even as Hong held a polling lead, telling reporters he would be “helpful” if Hong won but expected Crowley to prevail.
Crowley will now face Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in the November general election. Tiffany won the Republican primary for governor with 97 percent of the vote, running essentially unopposed among major candidates and backed by President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
Sources
- NBC News — Primary results showing Crowley at 39.8%, Hong at 39.3%
- PBS NewsHour — Crowley’s re-entry with Evers endorsement and campaign activities
- The New York Times — Analysis of Hong’s loss as a setback for democratic socialism
- Associated Press — Crowley’s narrow victory and Hong’s polling lead before the primary
- Wall Street Journal — Campaign fundraising figures and vote totals
- Wisconsin Examiner — Primary results and candidate details
- The Hill — Margin of victory and polling expectations
