Moderate Democrat David Crowley has emerged victorious in the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary, overcoming a significant challenge from democratic socialist Francesca Hong. projects that Crowley, who faced a tumultuous campaign cycle, will now advance to the November general election to face Republican Representative Tom Tiffany.
Crowley’s path to the nomination was marked by volatility, including a brief suspension of his campaign in July. Despite the setback, he maintained the support of two-term Governor Tony Evers. Addressing supporters on Wednesday morning, Crowley reflected on his campaign’s resurgence, stating, “Today, I stand before the people of Wisconsin after we rose from the ashes.” He credited his team for rebuilding the campaign with purpose and expressed his commitment to the future of working families in the state.
The candidate expressed deep appreciation for Governor Evers, thanking him for his leadership, friendship, and shared belief in collaborative problem-solving. Crowley formally accepted the nomination with a message of humility and hope. Earlier in the day, his campaign emphasized a readiness to build a broad coalition ahead of the general election. Political analyst Larry Sabato of the UVA Center for Politics noted that the race has shifted from a toss-up to leaning in favor of the Democrats.
In a gesture of unity, Crowley acknowledged Hong’s campaign efforts, describing them as a reminder that there are no long-shots when it comes to fighting for expanded opportunities. “That kind of passion, it strengthens our democracy,” Crowley said, adding that he intends to earn the support of all voters who participated in the primary process as the party moves forward.
Governor Evers celebrated the result on social media, praising Crowley as the future of the Democratic Party and expressing pride in his victory. The governor, who is not seeking reelection, highlighted the significance of the gubernatorial seat, noting that the race remains a top priority for both parties in a state that has historically been closely contested.
The primary field had undergone several shifts throughout the summer. Former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley had all initially entered the race. The landscape changed in July when Crowley briefly dropped out, citing what he later described as “false data,” before re-entering the contest as a centrist. Rodriguez also exited the race shortly after discovering her campaign lacked sufficient funding.
The final weeks of the primary were impacted by the withdrawal of Mandela Barnes on July 30. Barnes stepped down amid an investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel into allegations regarding his conduct and personal interactions with young adult women. Barnes has not been accused of any crimes and has not publicly addressed the allegations. His departure left the primary as a direct contest between Crowley and Hong.
The closing stages of the campaign saw increased scrutiny of Hong, particularly regarding social media posts from 2019 to 2021. These posts included calls to defund the police, abolish ICE and the U.S. Senate, and remarks about rural residents. While Hong has since walked back her stance on the Senate and clarified her views on holidays, the controversy contributed to the shifting dynamics of the race, ultimately helping Crowley reverse the trend of progressive victories seen in other states like Michigan, New York, and Colorado.
Tomorrow, we’re back at work to win.”
President Trump won by less than 1 point in 2024 and Wisconsin is one of only two states with one Democratic senator and one Republican senator.
Mandela Barnes, who lost the 2022 Senate race against Sen.
“And I look forward to earning their support, and everyone who participated in this campaign, as we move forward together.”
Angus King caucuses with Democrats, while the state’s other senator is GOP Sen.
Ron Johnson by one point, had thrown his hat in the ring, as well as Lt.
But the race started to take a completely different shape in July, when Crowley dropped his bid and threw his support behind Rodriguez, who was considered more of an establishment candidate.
Although Barnes had pulled out a surprise victory in the 2022 Senate primary as a progressive candidate and had previously won statewide in 2018, becoming the state’s first Black lieutenant governor, Hong, who was to his left, had risen to be the frontrunner.
With Wisconsin voters facing those hard-left choices on the ballot, Crowley then announced he would return to the campaign trail as a centrist Democrat.
Crowley said in a debate last month that he initially made the decision to drop out based on data, but “we were going off false data,” prompting him to return to the race.
Barnes then announced on July 30 — less than two weeks before the primary — that he would be dropping his bid, saying, “it’s becoming very clear who the Democratic nominee is going to be,” pointing to Hong.
Hong’s old social media posts from 2019 to 2021 have come to light: She called for defunding the police and abolishing ICE and the U.S.
Source: CBS News
