(Hong campaign via AP)
David Crowley narrowly defeated democratic socialist Francesca Hong in Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor Tuesday, halting progressives’ bid for another major victory in a key battleground state.
Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, emerged from the exceptionally close contest to claim the nomination, with a 3,000-vote margin, and will advance to a November showdown with Trump-backed Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI).
The moderate Democrat is seeking to become Wisconsin’s first Black governor and campaigned on the argument that he offered Democrats their strongest chance of winning the purple state, which Trump won in 2024, in November.
The result comes just one week after progressive Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, energizing the party’s far left and raising hopes that Hong could follow with another upset in the Midwest.
Crowley’s margin was less than one percentage point. The result left Hong eligible to seek a recount, but because the margin exceeded 0.25 percentage points, her campaign would have been required to cover the cost.
Hong instead chose to concede.
Hong’s challenge came without endorsements from progressive heavyweights Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and her late campaign was marked with headlines focusing on her past hot takes, including calls to abolish the police, prisons, and even Thanksgiving.
Crowley did not address supporters Tuesday night and was expected to appear at a Democratic unity event on Wednesday.
The post Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong Concedes After Falling Agonizingly Short in Razor-Thin Wisconsin Primary first appeared on Mediaite.
