Wisconsin’s Democratic primary is a sign that November is going to be close, and Democrats must put aside any differences within the big tent to defeat U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in the race for governor.
Takeaways from primaries in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Carolina
David Crowley won the Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin in a blow to the Democratic socialist movement.
Conservatives – and even some Democrats – hope the Wisconsin primary results are the writing on the wall for democratic socialism’s role in purple states. That framing ignores a lot of the nuance within the race.
On Aug. 12, it was announced that Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a moderate, had defeated Wisconsin Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, in the Democratic primary for governor. As he accepted his nomination, Crowley called for unity within the party the day of his win, urging Democrats to remember that defeating the Republican nominee should be the primary focus.
“From the very first day I announced this campaign, I said the real threat wasn’t any of my primary opponents,” Crowley said. “The real opponent has always been Tom Tiffany.”
Hong’s loss is not the death knell for the progressive movement that some want it to be, nor is Crowley’s nomination the Democrats settling for the same old playbook. The Wisconsin primary results are simply a reminder that all politics is local politics, and a reminder to Democrats that they must put aside their differences and focus on defeating the true opponents and the actual extreme politics that have taken over Republicans.
Why did Francesca Hong lose the Wisconsin primary?
Crowley, whom polls had predicted would lose by double digits, ultimately defeated Hong by less than half a percentage point. It might have been a shock for those of us who like to believe polling is accurate, but a closer look at his campaign shows how he managed to pull it off.
First off, Crowley was running with the endorsement of the sitting governor, Tony Evers, whom he traveled the state within the weeks leading up to the primary to rally supporters. At those meetups, the two men reassured voters that Crowley would have an easier time defeating a Republican candidate backed by President Donald Trump.
Then, there was Crowley’s actual campaign platform, which focused on three major issues: affordability, health care and education. Affordability is a major talking point among Democrats of all beliefs right now, and focusing on this was a smart move. Even though Crowley is the more moderate candidate, he clearly noticed that this message has been popular with voters.
Meanwhile, Hong came with baggage and little recognition among national progressive figures.
In the week leading up to the primary, she was scrutinized for old social media posts calling for the defunding of police and the cancellation of Thanksgiving – nothing that would completely tank her campaign, but things that might have given some Democratic voters pause.
Hong also received the Mariah Carey treatment from Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, and Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, according to a Politico story in which both progressive politicians claimed they didn’t know her. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, said she didn’t endorse in the race because she was focused on Congress.
It seems that the lack of backing from the left’s brightest stars certainly left Hong struggling and ultimately aided in her defeat.
Ocasio-Cortez’s position on the race is indicative of the progressive movement more broadly. It is necessary for progressives, with what little power they’ve coalesced, to focus on places where they can effectively counter Trump and Republicans. While the governorship is an important element of counteracting Trumpism, it makes sense for democratic socialists to focus on the U.S. Congress, where they can keep the Republican agenda from being actualized.
As for Crowley, I don’t think he’s a bad candidate, and I think that if the state’s voters selected him, it shows where Wisconsin is at politically and should be respected. This slim victory is a sign that he can be a little bolder in what he campaigns on, but at this point it’s simply important for Democrats to rally around their nominee – even if they voted for Hong.
What comes next for Democrats as the midterms approach?
While I was initially surprised by Hong’s loss – a reminder to never trust the polls – I ultimately think that the events that played out in the primary election are not an indication that progressivism is on the outs.
Recent wins in New York, Colorado and Michigan certainly affirm that this isn’t the case, as do the close results from Wisconsin.
Every state does politics in a way that works for its constituents. It’s perfectly reasonable that a purple state that Trump won in 2024 by less than a percentage point would have an incredibly close Democratic primary. It’s a sign that November is going to be close, and Democrats must put aside any differences within the big tent to defeat U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in the race for governor.
Crowley was right in his acceptance speech: At the end of the day, it isn’t about the internal control of the Democratic Party. If Democrats keep focusing on what’s happening within their ranks and ignore the Trumpian elephant in the room, they will never return to power nationally.
Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on Bluesky: @sarapequeno.bsky.social