Moderate Democrat David Crowley Wins Primary for Wisconsin Governor

CBS News reports that David Crowley, a moderate Democrat, is projected to win his party’s primary for Wisconsin governor. His victory comes as a surprise, narrowly defeating Francesca Hong, who was seen as a frontrunner.

Crowley will compete against GOP Rep. Tom Tiffany in the November election. The win marks a significant achievement for Crowley, who momentarily paused his campaign in July. His success is partly attributed to the support of the current Democratic Governor, Tony Evers, while Hong faced challenges due to past negative social media activity.

This result reverses a trend of progressive candidates winning Democratic primaries in states like Michigan, New York, and Colorado. Crowley celebrated his win with supporters at a rally held on August 10, 2026, in Milwaukee.

The governor’s seat in Wisconsin is highly coveted by both parties, particularly after Evers decided against seeking another term. The state has been a political battleground, with former President Trump winning narrowly in 2024. Currently, Wisconsin has one Democratic senator and one Republican senator. A similar situation exists in Maine, where Independent Senator Angus King often aligns with the Democrats, alongside Republican Senator Susan Collins.

The primary race included notable candidates such as former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who narrowly lost the 2022 Senate race, and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez. Barnes stunned political observers in previous elections as a progressive candidate and had made history as the state’s first Black lieutenant governor.

Initially, David Crowley withdrew from the race, supporting Rodriguez as an establishment candidate. Rodriguez later exited the race due to financial deficits, sparking a reevaluation of the field. Despite Barnes’ earlier successes, Hong, positioned further left, emerged as the leading contender.

Faced with the prospect of a hard-left nominee, Crowley restarted his campaign as a centrist, citing initial withdrawal due to misinterpreted data. Barnes eventually stepped away from the race days before the primary, acknowledging Hong’s frontrunner status, though his decision coincided with an inquiry into possible misconduct.

With the race spotlighted nationally, Crowley and Hong became the primary competitors. Hong’s previous social media posts surfaced during the campaign, inciting controversy. Between 2019 and 2021, she advocated for policies like defunding the police and abolishing government institutions. She has since retracted some of these views, clarifying her position on topics like the U.S. Senate and cultural traditions.