David Crowley Defeats Francesca Hong in Wisconsin Democratic Gubernatorial Primary

In Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley defeated Democratic socialist Francesca Hong in a tight race, setting up a November general election against Republican U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany.

“Moderate David Crowley beat Democratic socialist Francesca Hong”

Reuters

Reuters reported that Crowley was chosen by Wisconsin Democrats over Hong, who sought to become the state’s first democratic socialist governor, in a closely watched vote seen as a key test for progressive candidates in the battleground state.

Aawsat

The same Reuters roundup said Minnesota’s Democratic Senate primary showed momentum behind left-leaning candidates, with progressive Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan beating more moderate Representative Angie Craig.

Reuters tied the Minnesota matchup to the seat left open by Senator Tina Smith, and said Craig was the only Minnesota Democrat to vote for the Laken Riley Act before later saying she regretted her vote.

In Wisconsin, CNN’s Decision Desk projected that Crowley would narrowly defeat Hong after Tony Evers rallied Democrats in the race’s closing days.

Crowley posted on X in the early hours of Wednesday that it was time to "get to work," and he reiterated his missions as "making life more affordable, strengthening our schools, creating good-paying jobs, and making sure opportunity reaches every corner of our state."

The BBC said Crowley’s lead was less than half a percentage point over Hong with almost all votes counted, citing a CBS News projection.

Al Jazeera

In Wisconsin, Al Jazeera framed the result as a split inside Democratic primaries, saying Hong lost by just 0.4 percent to Crowley despite leading in polls ahead of election day.

Al Jazeera also reported that Crowley won with 39.8 percent of the vote while Hong carried 39.4 percent of the Democratic primary vote.

In Minnesota, Reuters said Flanagan beat Craig in the Democratic Senate primary, while CNN reported that Flanagan never faced the same electability worries that Hong faced in Wisconsin.

Reuters said the Wisconsin Democratic nominee Crowley will face Tom Tiffany in the November general election, while the Minnesota Democratic Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan is set to contend in November for the seat held by Senator Tina Smith.

“The nominee will face the Republican's pick, U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany”

Reuters

Reuters also described how Minnesota’s immigration enforcement issue shaped the Democratic Senate primary, noting that Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis led to the deaths of two people.

In Wisconsin, the Reuters account said Hong’s left-leaning policy goals included abolishing ICE and a one-year moratorium on data centers, alongside increased taxation of billionaires and corporations.

The New York Times said Hong’s candidacy worried moderate Democrats who feared she could falter in the general election in the purple state, and it quoted Hong telling supporters, "No matter who’s on this ballot, y’all, we are going to fight to win for one another."

In Minnesota, Reuters reported that Flanagan has said ICE is out of control and must be dismantled, while the BBC said Flanagan secured the Democratic nomination for the upcoming U.S. Senate race by defeating Angie Craig.