Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has won the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, narrowly defeating state Representative Francesca Hong. The Associated Press called the race early Wednesday morning after a delay in vote tabulation from Milwaukee.
Crowley, considered the moderate candidate, trailed Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, in polls leading up to the election. However, he secured 39.8% of the vote to Hong's 39.4% when the race was officially called.
Hong, who campaigned on raising taxes for high earners and had previously made controversial statements regarding police and holidays, sought to distance herself from past remarks in the election's final days. She had also faced criticism from within both Republican and Democratic circles for her progressive stances.
Earlier in the night, Hong urged her supporters to unite behind the eventual winner for the November general election against Republican nominee Rep. Tom Tiffany. "No matter who's on this ballot, y'all, we are going to fight to win for one another," Hong said.
Crowley had been endorsed by outgoing Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. In the lead-up to the primary, Evers expressed concerns about Hong's focus on "talking on Twitter and all these other extraneous issues." Crowley also told reporters that voters were "scared" about the direction of the country if the party moved further left.
Hong's campaign had gained traction earlier in the year, particularly after former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes dropped out of the race following allegations of concerning behavior toward women, which he denied.
Crowley's victory represents a win for moderates within the state Democratic Party as the general election campaign against Tiffany begins.