David Crowley Defeats Francesca Hong in Wisconsin Democratic Governor Primary

David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, defeated Francesca Hong in Wisconsin’s Democratic governor primary, a result BBC described as “a surprise comeback victory that dents a winning streak for the party's left wing.”

“a surprise comeback victory that dents a winning streak for the party's left wing”

BBC

BBC projected Crowley’s narrow win over Hong with a lead of less than half a percentage point with almost all votes counted, and it said Crowley would face Tom Tiffany in November after Tiffany won the Republican nomination.

Al Jazeera

The New York Times likewise reported that Crowley, a moderate Democrat, “Defeats Hong in Wisconsin Primary for Governor,” and it said Crowley would face Representative Tom Tiffany, a Trump-endorsed Republican.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said Crowley pulled off a “stunning comeback victory” over Hong by less than half of a percentage point, and it reported Crowley was declared the winner by the Associated Press early Wednesday, Aug. 12, after reporting delays in Milwaukee, Winnebago and Green counties.

Al Jazeera framed the same contest as a Wisconsin upset, saying Hong “lost by just 0.4 percent to Crowley,” and it described the race as a proxy battle inside Democratic primaries between “moderates” and “progressive” democratic socialists.

After accepting the Democratic nomination, David Crowley told reporters he would “vow to unite a fractured coalition heading into November’s general election,” and he thanked Francesca Hong, saying her campaign “reminded people across Wisconsin that there are no long shots in believing in a better future.”

Crowley also warned that Democrats must keep “Maga extremism from bringing the chaos we see in Washington into our neighborhoods right here in the state of Wisconsin,” while Hong told supporters she would work with him to defeat Tiffany in November.

BBC

The New York Times quoted Hong’s statement on social media that “This campaign was not about getting one person into office,” adding that it was “about building a movement for permanent affordability and a government that puts working people first.”

Fox News described the contest as a setback for the left wing, saying Hong was defeated by Crowley, who “topped her by a razor-thin margin,” and it reported that Crowley was heavily backed by retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

The Morning Call reported that Crowley linked Tiffany to Trump and called him “extremista MAGA,” while Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said Crowley posted on X that it was time to “get to work” after the race was called.

BBC said the Wisconsin governor’s race in November will be contested by Crowley and Tom Tiffany, and it described the matchup as closely fought during the midterm elections with wider implications for control of the US Congress.

“The governor's race in November will be contested by Crowley and Tom Tiffany”

BBC

The Washington Post reported that Crowley, 40, will face Republican Tom Tiffany, and it said voters scrutinized Hong in the final stages over her past calls to abolish the police and cancel Thanksgiving.

In the same race, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Crowley will face U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in a Nov. 3 general election, and it said Crowley’s win delivered a loss to the democratic socialist movement.

NBC News’ election coverage tied the Wisconsin contest to a broader 2026 governor primary landscape, noting that “Projections by the NBC News Decision Desk” and vote data via the Associated Press underpin its live results.

Al Jazeera added that Tuesday’s primaries also included other contests beyond Wisconsin, including Minnesota’s Democratic Senate primary where Peggy Flanagan secured the nomination, and it said the Wisconsin upset was held alongside Alabama, Connecticut, Minnesota, South Carolina and Vermont primaries.