David Crowley has won the Wisconsin Democratic primary for governor in a stunning upset, defeating the race's frontrunner, Francesca Hong, by less than half a percentage point. The outcome defied all statewide polls, which had consistently shown Hong with a double-digit lead.
The Associated Press declared Crowley the winner early Wednesday, August 12, following reporting delays in Milwaukee, Winnebago, and Green counties. If the narrow margin in unofficial results holds, it could trigger a recount, as it falls within the 1% threshold.
Crowley's campaign manager, Garren Randolph, stated, "David is ready to get back to work, build a broad coalition, and win in November."
The Milwaukee County Executive had initially dropped out of the race in July, citing polling that indicated he was not breaking through in the crowded primary. However, he re-entered the race days later with a crucial endorsement from Governor Tony Evers, who maintains a job approval rating above 50% according to a recent Marquette University Law School survey.
Crowley's victory is seen as a setback for the democratic socialist movement, which has recently seen successes in New York, Colorado, and Michigan. Hong's loss followed a week of national scrutiny over her past social media posts advocating for police abolition and criticizing holidays.
Throughout the final month of the primary, Crowley and Governor Evers campaigned together, arguing that Hong's past statements would make her vulnerable in a general election against Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany. Crowley is now set to face Tiffany in the November 3 general election.
Supporters of Tiffany, the Republican candidate, had expressed a desire for a matchup with Hong, noting the stark contrast between the two. Republican groups reportedly spent millions of dollars on ads during the primary to increase Hong's name recognition, viewing her as a more beatable opponent.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, who has known Crowley for about 25 years and attended high school together, described him as "gregarious," "down to earth," and "funny." Johnson added, "But he is a fighter, and he likes to learn. He will deliver for all communities, all across the state."
Crowley revived his campaign after a tumultuous period. He learned that his initial endorsement choice was out of funds, received encouragement from supporters to re-enter the race, and secured Governor Evers' backing. Crowley had initially ended his campaign on July 8, stating it was clear he would not be the Democratic nominee. The following day, he endorsed Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, who subsequently announced she had fired her campaign manager for financial mismanagement. Rodriguez withdrew from the race on July 17, and Crowley officially rejoined the race the same day. Governor Evers' endorsement came on July 18, marking Crowley's campaign relaunch with a rally in Milwaukee.
When asked about rejoining the race instead of backing another candidate, Crowley emphasized his experience as county executive, stating, “None of the candidates, while I've had the opportunity to work with them in their different roles, none of them has the experience of running government, of getting pieces of legislation passed that's going to directly impact families across this state like we did.”
From the outset of his campaign's revival, Crowley warned voters about Republican efforts to boost Hong, cautioning them about "Republicans spending money in our Democratic primary." He also reiterated his warning that Tiffany, who has Trump's endorsement, could defeat Hong, even in a political climate that has soured on Trump and favors Democrats.
Governor Evers' decision not to seek a third term created an open race for Democrats, leading to several candidates dropping out over the summer. State Sen. Kelda Roys and former Evers cabinet member Joel Brennan remained in the race until the end but trailed Crowley in the final results. Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski will be Crowley's running mate, while former Lancaster Mayor David Varnam will join Tiffany on the GOP ticket.
Paul Kurtz, a 50-year-old man from Janesville, said he believed Tiffany is the best candidate because “he’s steady, he’s a Wisconsinite through and through."
Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.
