Crowley beats progressive Hong in Wisconsin Democratic primary for governor

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has defeated state Representative Francesca Hong in Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, according to projections from the Associated Press. Crowley’s victory marks a major setback for the Democratic Socialists of America, which had backed Hong’s campaign. The primary was closely watched as a test of the party’s progressive wing against more established Democratic leadership. Crowley, who has led Milwaukee County since 2020, will now face the winner of the Republican primary in the November general election. During his campaign, he focused on local economic development, public transit, and criminal justice reform. Hong, a first-term state lawmaker from Madison, ran on a platform of universal healthcare, rent control, and defunding police. She had argued that Wisconsin Democrats needed a sharper break from centrist policies to energize young voters. No official statement from either campaign has been released since the projection. Crowley is expected to deliver a victory speech later tonight.