Wisconsin Governor Race Too Close to Call as Progressive Hong Battles Moderate Crowley

Wisconsin's Democratic primary for governor is too close to call, with progressive Francesca Hong and moderate David Crowley separated by only a few hundred votes in a race that has exposed deep party divides.

Wisconsin's Democratic primary for governor is too close to call, with state Rep. Francesca Hong and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley separated by only a few hundred votes early Wednesday morning, according to NBC News' Decision Desk.

"The race was more competitive than most Democrats expected entering election night, after a dramatic campaign of twists, dropouts and surges that illuminated the deep divides between different wings of the party," NBC News reported.

"The eventual Democratic nominee will face Rep. Tom Tiffany, who won the Republican gubernatorial primary Tuesday."

Hong, a democratic socialist, started her campaign essentially unknown but went on to build a substantial lead in public polling, becoming an object of national political fascination in one of the nation's most closely balanced battleground states.

Crowley, meanwhile, dropped out of the race one month ago after he initially struggled to gain traction, only to re-enter 10 days later with outgoing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' endorsement.

A Campaign of Twists and Turns

The late drama and tight vote count came after other major shakeups throughout the primary, which had lacked a clear front-runner for much of the year. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez unexpectedly exited the race in mid-July amid issues with her campaign finances. Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, the Democratic Senate nominee in 2022 who narrowly lost to GOP Sen. Ron Johnson, dropped out at the end of July.

Candidates aside from Hong and Crowley played a significant role, pulling a combined 20% of the vote. State Sen. Kelda Roys was in third place, just shy of 8%.

The Progressive-Moderate Divide

Hong, 37, of Madison, faced growing scrutiny in the closing stretch of the campaign over her controversial positions she'd outlined in the past, fueling concerns among some Democrats that she was too far left to win a general election in the swing state.

Crowley, 40, was also a largely unknown quantity statewide. But Evers, a popular governor who chose not to run for a third term, went to bat for him on the campaign trail, arguing that he was the most electable candidate.

"The message seemed to land with some voters. Ali Plummer of Madison told NBC News that she 'voted for Crowley because I am a risk-averse person, and I really was reading a lot about who has the chances to beat Tom Tiffany in the larger election.'"

"But Plummer was part of a 'split-vote couple' with Shawn Bass, who voted for Hong. 'I really think that she has a great platform for talking about universal healthcare, talking about universal childcare,' Bass said."

What Happens Next

In Wisconsin, a second-place candidate can request a recount if the margin is decided by less than 1%. If the margin is 0.25% or less, the state pays; otherwise the candidate does.

The eventual Democratic nominee will face Rep. Tom Tiffany, who won the Republican gubernatorial primary Tuesday. Tiffany attacked Hong and "extreme Madison socialism" in a brief appearance on Fox News Tuesday night, saying, "Stand with me as we protect the Wisconsin way of life."

Here is the question this race raises. Wisconsin's Democratic primary for governor is too close to call, with a progressive and a moderate battling for the nomination. When the party's future direction is at stake, how will the outcome shape the general election and the broader national political landscape?

As the votes continue to be counted, The Silicon Review asks a final question. When a swing state primary exposes deep divides within a party, what will it take for Democrats to unite behind a nominee?

FAQ:

Q: Who are the candidates in Wisconsin's Democratic primary for governor?
A: The leading candidates are state Rep. Francesca Hong (progressive) and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (moderate).

Q: Why is the Wisconsin governor primary too close to call?
A: Hong and Crowley are separated by only a few hundred votes, with other candidates pulling a combined 20% of the vote.

Q: What is the significance of the Wisconsin governor race?
A: Wisconsin is a key battleground state, and the outcome could shape the national political landscape and Democratic Party direction.

Q: Who will the Democratic nominee face in the general election?
A: The Democratic nominee will face Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, who won the GOP primary.

Q: What happens if the primary margin is very close?
A: A second-place candidate can request a recount if the margin is less than 1%. If the margin is 0.25% or less, the state pays for the recount.