David Crowley secured a narrow victory over former state assemblywoman Francesca Hong in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, stunning the party’s left‑wing momentum.
Crowley, Milwaukee County’s chief executive officer, led Hong by less than half a percentage point in live tally data, according to CBS News predictions.
His win follows a pattern of insurgent Democrats flipping races in Minnesota and Michigan, but marks a rare setback for the anti‑establishment wing of the party across the country.
Hong, a single mother and former chef, intended to become the first democratic socialist to govern Wisconsin, yet faced questions over past comments on police funding and the Thanksgiving holiday.
After briefly withdrawing to back a rival, Crowley returned to the race with Governor Tony Evers’s support, sparking a late surge that carried him through the polls.
In November, the governor’s race will pit Crowley against Republican Tom Tiffany, a U.S. congressman backed by President Donald Trump, who focuses on tax cuts, farm support and healthcare improvements.
The outcome could have broader implications for the balance of power in U.S. Congress during the upcoming midterm elections.
