Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor remained too close to call early Wednesday morning, with state Rep. Francesca Hong and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley separated by only a few hundred votes, according to the NBC News Decision Desk. Early results showed both candidates receiving approximately 40% of the more than 700,000 votes cast, Wisconsin Watch reported.
A Battle of Party Factions
The race evolved into a proxy battle between the progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party. Hong, a 37-year-old democratic socialist from Madison and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, entered the race largely unknown but built a substantial lead in public polling for several months. According to NBC News, Hong viewed her campaign as a potential signal to other candidates that working-class issues could be a successful platform nationally.
Crowley, 40, positioned himself as a centrist alternative. He argued that Hong’s socialist views would make her a liability in the general election, telling Axios that people don’t like socialists
and socialists didn’t poll very good
. Crowley’s campaign sought to frame him as the most electable option for a swing state, a message bolstered by an endorsement from outgoing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
Campaign Volatility and Shakeups
The primary was marked by significant instability and a rotating field of candidates. David Crowley initially struggled to gain traction, polling in the single digits before dropping out of the race in early July. He originally cited poll and fundraising data suggesting momentum for Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez. However, Crowley re-entered the race 10 days later after Rodriguez unexpectedly exited in mid-July following revelations of issues with her campaign finances.
Other prominent figures also departed the race. Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, the 2022 Democratic Senate nominee, dropped out on July 30, stating it had become clear who the nominee would be. Despite these exits, candidates who were no longer in the race continued to impact the totals; Rodriguez and Barnes each garnered nearly 4% of the vote. A Wisconsin judge had ruled that voters who returned absentee ballots could not request new ones even after their chosen candidates withdrew.
Polls vs. Election Night Results
The narrow margin on election night stood in stark contrast to late-stage polling. In the final Marquette Law School Poll, Hong held 38% support compared to Crowley’s 7%, though 34% of respondents remained undecided. Following his return to the race, Crowley received the backing of Gov. Evers, who stumped across the state for him, while pro-Crowley outside groups ran closing television advertisements.
Other candidates trailed significantly in the final count:
- State Sen. Kelda Roys: Just shy of 8% statewide (approximately 11% in Dane County)
- Former Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan: Single digits
General Election Stakes
The Democratic nominee will face Rep. Tom Tiffany, who was projected by NBC News to win the Republican gubernatorial primary. Tiffany has already criticized Hong’s extreme Madison socialism
. The 2026 race is the first open governor’s seat in Wisconsin since 2010, as Gov. Evers chose not to seek a third term.
Under Wisconsin law, a losing candidate can request a recount if the margin is less than 1%. If the margin is 0.25% or less, the state covers the cost; otherwise, the candidate must pay for the recount.
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