Crowley wins Wisconsin Democratic primary for governor

David Crowley is projected to have won Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, a narrow upset that interrupts a string of victories by left-wing Democratic candidates and sets up a November contest against Trump-backed Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany.

With almost all votes counted, Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive and the more centrist candidate in the race, defeated Wisconsin state Assemblywoman Francesca Hong, according to a projection early Wednesday by CBS News, the BBC’s partner. Al Jazeera, citing Associated Press results from earlier Wednesday with 94 percent of votes counted, reported Crowley and Hong were separated by less than one percentage point, with Crowley at 39.9 percent and Hong at 39.5 percent.

Crowley posted on X that it was time to “get to work,” saying his priorities were “making life more affordable, strengthening our schools, creating good-paying jobs, and making sure opportunity reaches every corner of our state.”

Tiffany easily won the Republican nomination, taking 95.3 percent of the vote, according to AP figures cited by Al Jazeera. He serves in Congress, has the backing of President Donald Trump and has campaigned on lowering taxes, supporting farmers, improving healthcare and addressing affordability.

The Wisconsin result stood out because many observers had expected Hong to extend recent gains by progressive and democratic socialist candidates in Democratic primaries. Hong, a single mother and former chef, sought to become the first democratic socialist to govern Wisconsin. Her policy goals included abolishing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a one-year moratorium on new data centres and higher taxes on billionaires and corporations, Al Jazeera reported.

Hong also faced scrutiny for past social media posts about Thanksgiving. In one November 2020 post, during a COVID-19 wave, she wrote, “Please DON’T gather for the colonizer holiday.” In another, she said, “Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621.” She later walked back those comments, saying she had fond memories of Thanksgiving as a chef, that the holiday is painful for many people and that she did not want to cancel it.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who often endorse insurgent left-wing candidates, did not endorse Hong. AP News reported that Hong conceded to Crowley and that her campaign manager said she was “proud of the race we ran.”

Crowley’s late surge was unexpected in part because he briefly dropped out last month to support a rival before re-entering the race with the backing of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

The Wisconsin primary was one of several contests held Tuesday across the country, including races in Minnesota, South Carolina, Alabama, Connecticut and Vermont. In Minnesota, progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan defeated the more moderate Rep. Angie Craig in the Democratic Senate primary, winning 59 percent to Craig’s 39.4 percent with 99 percent of votes counted, according to Al Jazeera. In the state’s Republican governor primary, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth defeated former MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a Trump ally, 43.4 percent to 32.5 percent with about 99 percent counted.

In Alabama’s newly redrawn 2nd Congressional District, Trump-backed Rhett Marques won the Republican primary with 50 percent of the vote, while Hampton Harris had 21.6 percent, Al Jazeera reported. Marques will face Democrat Shomari Figures, who is seeking a second term.

In South Carolina, Darline Graham advanced after a Republican primary for the US Senate seat following the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. The BBC reported that Darline Graham Nordone advanced to a runoff later this month and will face Democrat Annie Andrews to fill the vacant seat. Al Jazeera, citing AP, reported that Darline Graham received 32.7 percent in a 10-candidate Republican race and will face Rep. Ralph Norman, who had 24.7 percent, in an Aug. 25 runoff. Al Jazeera also reported that Trump endorsed Graham for a full six-year term and that she has said she is “not being handed” the seat and needs to earn votes.