Wisconsin Democrats choose David Crowley over Francesca Hong’s progressive vision

David Crowley pulled off a narrow upset victory in Wisconsin's Democratic primary for governor on Tuesday, per The 19th. The Milwaukee County Executive had dropped out just over three weeks before re-entering the race with the backing of outgoing Gov. Tony Evers—and still managed to narrowly defeat democratic socialist state Rep. Francesca Hong. Hong would have made history as Wisconsin's first woman and first Asian-American governor; she had run on a progressive platform including a moratorium on new data center construction. Crowley took a more moderate, business-friendly approach, though both candidates campaigned on affordability, healthcare, and childcare. Concerns that Hong's past positions on defunding police and abolishing prisons would make her vulnerable in Wisconsin's closely divided electorate helped drive Evers to get back in the race. Crowley will now face Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in November; if elected, he would become Wisconsin's first Black governor.

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