USA · 11 August, 2026 · 2 min read
Voters in Wisconsin and Minnesota Decide Democratic Primaries for Governor and Senate
Wisconsin governor primary pits Francesca Hong against David Crowley for Democratic nomination. Minnesota Senate primary results in Peggy Flanagan securing the Democratic nomination.
ABC News.
3 of 4 outlets skipped it: RNC-scale ad spending by RGA to promote Hong.
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The New York Times
“a surprisingly close contest that could be a test of progressive power”Read the original ↗
CNBC
“Progressives and moderates will face off again in Tuesday's Democratic primary elections”Read the original ↗
NYT stresses factional impact; CNBC stresses an ongoing left-versus-middle strategy.
Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries
Voters in six states on Tuesday decided which candidates will face off in November in House and Senate races that could determine whether the balance of power will shift in the next Congress, with Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries drawing the sharpest attention.
In Wisconsin, the Democratic nomination for governor was too close to call early Wednesday between Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and democratic socialist state Rep. Francesca Hong, as votes were counted.
In Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan won the Democratic Senate primary to succeed retiring Sen. Tina Smith, and she will face sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya in November.
ABC News also projected that Amy Klobuchar would win the Democratic governor primary to replace retiring Gov. Tim Walz, while Minnesota’s GOP governor nomination would go to state House Speaker Lisa Demuth.
The New York Times reported that Ms. THong told supporters shortly before midnight local time, “No matter who’s on this ballot, y’all, we are going to fight to win for one another,” as the Wisconsin race tightened.
Quotes and ideological split
The New York Times described Wisconsin’s Democratic governor contest as “an extraordinarily tight race,” framing it as a test of progressive power in a vital swing state.T
Ms. Hong, who energized left-wing voters, stressed unity while also drawing scrutiny for past social media posts, and the Times noted she supports abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and increasing taxes on people who make more than $750,000 per year.
In Minnesota, the Times quoted Ms. Flanagan telling supporters in her victory speech, “For months now, I’ve been telling you this campaign was about the many versus the money,” and then adding, “Guess what: The many just won.”
CNBC said the primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota set progressives and moderates against each other again as the party decides whether to “lurch further to the left or chart toward the middle,” after crushing losses to Republicans in 2024.C
CNBC also reported that Republicans have seized on the surge of progressives in the Democratic Party, branding the party’s left flank as "communists."C
What’s at stake next
The New York Times said the winner of the Wisconsin Democratic governor primary would face Rep. TTom Tiffany in November, and it also described the broader stakes as Democrats trying to test progressive power in a swing state.
“Her runoff against Mr. Norman, the vice chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, is scheduled for Aug. 25.”
In Minnesota, the Times reported that Ms. Flanagan will face Michele Tafoya in November for the seat held by Senator Tina Smith, and it tied the contest to the party’s left-wing direction.
ABC News projected that Gov. Ned Lamont would fend off a primary challenge from Josh Elliott in Connecticut and that Lamont would face Republican Ryan Fazio in November.
In South Carolina, the Times reported that Senator Darline Graham advanced to a Republican primary runoff against Representative Ralph Norman, with the runoff scheduled for Aug. 25.
ABC News also said South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham death in July sparked a rapid-fire campaign season, while the primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota were being decided with the balance of power in the next Congress in view.