David Crowley Wins Wisconsin Primary, Faces Challenge in November

Moderate Democrat David Crowley claimed victory in the Wisconsin primary for governor, surpassing democratic socialist Francesca Hong. Crowley aims to make history as Wisconsin’s first Black governor, presenting himself as the candidate most capable of defeating Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany. Tiffany has the endorsement of Donald Trump.

Crowley, currently the Milwaukee County Executive, narrowly defeated Hong, who sought to continue the success of progressive candidates like Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race marked a significant win for the movement in a politically divided state. Concerns persist within the Democratic leadership about progressive candidates potentially jeopardizing the party’s chances of regaining control of Congress.

Although Crowley did not address supporters on Tuesday night, he was set to appear at a unity event the following day. His campaign manager, Garren Randolph, emphasized the focus on uniting Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to achieve results for Wisconsin.

Despite Hong’s loss, her close race highlights a growing unrest among the party’s voters. “We have built something that will change politics forever,” Hong told supporters as she awaited the final results. After conceding, her campaign manager, Becky Cooper, praised the campaign’s clean approach and its contribution to the progressive movement. The Associated Press declared Crowley the winner, as Hong’s concession ended the possibility of a recount.

Progressive Movement’s Strategy and Challenges

Progressive leaders, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, did not endorse candidates in the Wisconsin race. The movement lacks full alignment; not all candidates are democratic socialists, or have Sanders’ endorsement. However, they often address similar voter frustrations, such as military aid to Israel, campaign funding, immigration raids, and high living costs.

Recent victories in New York City primaries, where democratic socialists ousted Democratic incumbents, are attributed to a push for “better Democrats.” Wisconsin Democrats aim to exploit Trump’s low approval ratings to retain the governor’s office and gain full legislative control for the first time since 2010.

Efforts to Unite After a Contentious Primary

Both Crowley and Hong expressed anticipation that Democrats would unite to defeat Tiffany in the general election. “Our ultimate goal is to make sure we don’t have a MAGA extremist occupying the governor’s office,” Crowley stated. However, Democratic voter David Zimmerman voiced concerns about Hong’s chances against Tiffany, indicating his support for Crowley.

The tightly contested primary followed a series of withdrawals and comebacks among candidates. Crowley initially dropped out, endorsing Gov. Tony Evers before re-entering the race with Evers’ support. Evers chose not to seek a third term, leading to an open race that saw multiple candidates step back amid scandals.

Hong tapped into dissatisfaction with mainstream Democratic approaches, gaining support as a progressive voice. She advocated for policies like free childcare and healthcare, though faced scrutiny for past positions like defunding the police.

“We should stop celebrating colonialism,” Hong commented in the past on social media, calling for the cancellation of Thanksgiving. While these comments drew criticism, she later characterized them as attempts at humor.

Primary Results and Future Steps

The race concluded with a delay in reporting absentee ballot results due to a technical error in Milwaukee. With a focus on unity, Wisconsin Democrats look forward to the November election as they seek to consolidate support across various political alliances.