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Wisconsin primary upset
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated Francesca Hong in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in Wisconsin, setting up a general election against Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany.
“The Associated Press called the race for Crowley at 2:34 a.m.”
The Cap Times said Crowley won by roughly 3,212 votes and less than half a percentage point with 99% of ballots counted on Wednesday morning, after the Associated Press called the race for Crowley at 2:34 a.m.
In the same primary, the Cap Times reported Hong conceded in a post on X and wrote, "I fully support him (Crowley) and look forward to working with him to defeat Congressman Tiffany in November," as results continued to trickle in.
The New York Times described Hong’s defeat as showing "the limits of the Left," and said Crowley’s razor-thin victory allowed mainstream Democrats to breathe a sigh of relief as they prepared for the general election.
The New York Times also quoted Hong telling supporters late Tuesday night, "Wisconsin, we have built something that will last forever," before calling for unity as the party prepared for its contest against Representative Tom Tiffany.
Polls, endorsements, and fallout
Forbes said polls got the Wisconsin race wrong, citing a Marquette Law poll taken July 22-27 in which Hong led with 38% support, followed by Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes with 16% and Crowley with 7%.
Forbes reported that in a third poll by State Navigate taken Aug. 3-6, among 1,473 likely Democratic primary voters, Hong led with 44%, followed by Crowley with 22% and Wisconsin state Sen. Kelda Roys with 11%.
The New York Times said Gov. Tony Evers went to war for Crowley, campaigning alongside him and warning that Hong would "probably" lose to Mr. Tiffany in November.
The New York Times also described Hong’s campaign as amassing 7,000 volunteers and canvassing the state, while it said the Democratic establishment waged an all-out effort to stop her from becoming the nominee.
The Cap Times reported that Crowley credited Hong in his victory speech, saying, "Her campaign reminded people across Wisconsin that there are no long shots when it comes to believing in a better future."
What the results change
The Cap Times said the Wisconsin Democratic primary victory by Crowley teed up a match between him and Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in the fall, after Tiffany beat his primary opponent, Andrew Manske, with more than 95% of the vote.
“"there is a limit to how far left Democrats are willing to go"”
The Cap Times reported that Wisconsin candidates can request a recount if the vote margin falls under 1%, but said Hong appeared to have cut off that possibility by conceding Wednesday in a post on X.
Vox said Hong’s loss showed "there is a limit to how far left Democrats are willing to go" in a swing state, and it described Crowley’s win as a contrast with a general election against Rep. Tom Tiffany.
Vox also said Hong ran on a pledge to "Control-Alt-Delete" the AI buildout, including a one-year moratorium on new projects, and it framed the defeat as a setback for the progressive movement’s momentum.
The New York Times said Hong called for unity as the Democratic Party prepares for a general election contest against Representative Tom Tiffany, a Trump-aligned Republican, after the Democratic establishment struck back in the primary.
