Tight Race in Wisconsin’s Democratic Primary for Governor

The Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin proved unexpectedly close early Wednesday morning. NBC News’ Decision Desk reported a narrow gap between state Rep. Francesca Hong and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, with only a few hundred votes separating the two.

The intense competition surprised many Democrats, who did not anticipate such a close contest following a campaign filled with unexpected developments. The primary exposed significant divisions within the party’s different factions.

Francesca Hong’s Campaign

Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, started her campaign as relatively unknown. She eventually gained a significant lead in public polling, capturing national attention in one of America’s crucial battleground states.

Despite this momentum, Hong, 37, from Madison, faced growing concerns within the party about her controversial past positions. Some Democrats feared she might be too left-leaning for a general election win in the swing state.

David Crowley’s Re-Entry

David Crowley, initially struggling in the race, dropped out a month ago. He re-entered 10 days later after receiving an endorsement from outgoing Democratic Governor Tony Evers.

Though Crowley, 40, was not widely recognized statewide, Governor Evers supported him energetically. Evers argued Crowley was the candidate most likely to succeed in the primary. Pro-Crowley groups backed this message with campaign ads as the election drew near, targeting undecided voters.

A voter, Alli Plummer from Madison, expressed support for Crowley due to his perceived electability against Republican candidate Tom Tiffany in the larger election. However, Plummer’s household saw a split-vote, as her partner Shawn Bass supported Hong for her advocacy of universal healthcare and childcare.

Campaign Developments

The primary faced several shakeups throughout the year. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, favored by moderate Democrats, exited the race in July due to campaign finance challenges. Similarly, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes withdrew his candidacy at the end of July.

Other candidates, including Rodriguez and Barnes, collectively accounted for 20% of the vote. Notably, State Sen. Kelda Roys was close behind Hong and Crowley, capturing around 8%.

In the critical liberal area of Dane County, which includes Hong’s and Roys’ legislative districts, Roys received nearly 11% of the vote.

In instances where a primary race margin falls below 1%, a losing candidate can request a recount. If the margin is 0.25% or less, the state covers the recount cost.

General Election Outlook

The selected Democratic nominee will face Republican candidate Rep. Tom Tiffany, who secured his primary win on Tuesday. Tiffany criticized Hong, associating her with “extreme Madison socialism” during an appearance on Fox News.

In his victory speech, Tiffany urged supporters to stand by him in upholding the “Wisconsin way of life” and advancing the state forward.