Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has secured the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin governor, narrowly defeating state Rep. Francesca Hong in a primary that tested the influence of the Democratic Socialists of America within the party. Crowley, considered a more moderate candidate, will now face Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in the general election.
Retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and other party leaders endorsed Crowley, with Evers calling him "the future of the party." Despite holding leads in some polls, Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, ultimately fell short. Crowley has emphasized party unity following the contest, stating that Democrats "should not be focusing on kicking people from under, saying that they don’t belong within this tent."
Crowley's victory comes after a brief withdrawal from the race in early July. He had initially dropped out due to a lack of a clear path forward, but re-entered the contest shortly after endorsing Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, who subsequently withdrew. Crowley described his decision to re-enter as a sign answered by prayer.
His platform includes proposals for affordable housing, universal early childhood education, expanded healthcare, and investments in clean energy. He has also advocated for stronger voting rights and has been a vocal critic of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stating he sees "no scenario where we would want to partner with ICE."
The general election matchup between Crowley and Tiffany, a member of the House Freedom Caucus backed by former President Donald Trump, is expected to draw national attention. Crowley's campaign has framed the contest as a choice between moving Wisconsin forward and embracing the "division and extremism" associated with Trump and Tiffany.
Democratic leadership, including the Democratic Governors Association and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, has thrown its support behind Crowley, aiming to unify the party for the November election. Party officials highlighted Crowley's readiness to take on Tiffany in the general election, characterizing Tiffany as a "MAGA extremist."