State Rep. Francesca Hong and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley are competing for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Wisconsin ahead of a primary election scheduled for Tuesday. Hong, who identifies as a democratic socialist, currently leads in public polling despite opposition from establishment figures within her own party, including outgoing Governor Tony Evers. The winner of the primary is expected to face U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the presumptive Republican nominee, in the November general election.
The race has centered on questions of electability in a state where the 2024 presidential election was decided by fewer than 30,000 votes. Governor Evers, who declined to run for a third term, has actively campaigned for Crowley, suggesting that Hong’s policy positions and past social media statements could jeopardize the party's ability to hold the governor’s mansion. Previously, other high-profile Democrats including Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez and former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes withdrew from the contest.
Hong’s platform includes a proposed minimum wage increase to $20 per hour, progressive taxation, and a one-year statewide moratorium on data center construction. She has faced scrutiny for past social media posts regarding "defunding the police" and Thanksgiving; however, she recently stated she would not defund the police as governor and described herself as "serious about public safety." Crowley has positioned himself as a moderate, emphasizing his ability to negotiate and opposing Hong’s proposed data center moratorium, which he argues would interfere with local economic development.
The scale of the primary involves hundreds of thousands of Democratic voters and millions of dollars in spending. Pro-Republican groups, including a political action committee linked to the Republican Governors Association, have spent millions of dollars on advertisements intended to boost Hong in the primary. These groups indicated they believe Hong would be a weaker opponent for the Republican nominee in the general election. The strategic spending highlights how outside groups are attempting to influence the choice of a major party nominee in a state where recent elections have been decided by margins of just one or two percentage points.
For Wisconsin residents, the primary results will dictate the specific policy choices available on the November ballot, ranging from democratic socialist economic reforms to more moderate fiscal approaches. The contest also carries historical weight, as some supporters have expressed concern that racism or sexism could influence the general election; Wisconsin has never elected a governor who was not a white man. Following the primary on Tuesday, the Democratic nominee will immediately begin a three-month campaign against Rep. Tom Tiffany leading up to the November general election. Regardless of the primary outcome, Crowley has stated he will support the nominee, while Evers has not yet committed to campaigning with Hong if she wins.