Wisconsin Democrats Test Party’s Leftward Shift in Aug. 12 Governor Primary
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 6
Wisconsin Democrats Test Party’s Leftward Shift in Aug. 12 Governor Primary
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 6
Summary
Tuesday’s Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary has become the party’s next ideological test, with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley facing democratic socialist Francesca Hong in a race seen as a near photo finish.
Michigan’s upset a week ago sharpened the stakes: progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly beat Haley Stevens, and Crowley is leaning on Gov. Tony Evers’ endorsement to persuade voters focused on November electability.
More than 112,000 absentee ballots were already returned before late-July polling showed Hong ahead, while the race was scrambled by Crowley’s brief July 8 withdrawal and the exits of Sara Rodriguez and Mandela Barnes.
Hong has spent the final stretch clarifying past calls to defund police and posts attacking Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, giving Republican Tom Tiffany fresh lines of attack ahead of the general election.
The winner will face Tiffany in a battleground state where Democrats are also trying to flip both legislative chambers and regain a governing trifecta for the first time since 2010.