Moderate Democrat David Crowley secured a victory in the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary on Tuesday. CBS News projected Crowley as the winner in his contest against Francesca Hong. This result marks a shift in the political climate as Crowley moves forward to represent the Democratic party against Republican nominee Tom Tiffany in the November general election.
Crowley returned to the race in July after a brief suspension of his campaign. He regained momentum with the endorsement of two-term Governor Tony Evers, who publicly campaigned for him. This win serves as a rebuttal to recent primary trends that saw progressive candidates find success in other states like Michigan and New York. Analysts at the University of Virginia Center for Politics now classify the general election race as leaning Democratic.
Francesca Hong, a state lawmaker and former chef, entered the primary as a frontrunner. However, her campaign faced scrutiny following the discovery of social media posts from 2019 to 2021. These posts contained controversial statements regarding the abolition of federal agencies and the U.S. Senate. Hong eventually walked back several of these positions during the final weeks of the campaign.
The race saw significant turbulence during the summer months. Candidates like Sara Rodriguez and Mandela Barnes exited the primary process, narrowing the field down to Crowley and Hong. Rodriguez withdrew due to funding concerns, while Barnes left the race shortly before the election amid external investigations into his personal conduct.
Governor Evers celebrated the result, calling Crowley the future of the party. The upcoming November contest is a high-priority race for both major parties, as Wisconsin remains a critical swing state. Crowley now faces the task of assembling a coalition to defeat Representative Tom Tiffany in the fall.