Wisconsin Democrat Gubernatorial Primary: Crowley's Surprise Victory

David Crowley, the establishment-backed Milwaukee County Executive, pulled off a stunning upset in Wisconsin's Democrat gubernatorial primary. He defeated socialist Francesca Hong by a narrow margin, leaving many pollsters surprised.

Crowley's path to victory was not straightforward. He initially dropped out of the race on July 8, only to re-enter nine days later after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez withdrew due to a financial scandal. Crowley's decision to re-enter the race was a strategic move, as he had the endorsement of outgoing Gov. Tony Evers. This endorsement helped him gain momentum and eventually forced Mandela Barnes out of the race.

Barnes had faced scrutiny over his treatment of women, which likely contributed to his downfall. Hong's anti-American views had also captured headlines, making her a less appealing candidate to many voters. Crowley's only professional experience is in politics, which may have worked in his favor as he was able to connect with the progressive base of Wisconsin Democrats.

As county executive, Crowley has a record of being a tax-and-spend liberal. He worked with Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson to raise taxes on county residents, resulting in a combined sales tax of 7.9 percent, the highest in the state. Milwaukee County also faced a $47 million deficit in their 2026 budget under Crowley's watch, which he addressed by implementing the largest property tax increase in two decades and raiding $9.8 million from reserve accounts.

On the campaign trail, Crowley emphasized that he and Hong shared similar views, trying to make his candidacy more palatable to the progressive base. He stated that the question was not about policy, but rather who could get things done. This was in response to Hong's goals of eliminating funding for law enforcement and the state's school choice program.

Crowley will now face Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in the November ballot. His victory is a testament to the complexities of Wisconsin's Democrat primary and the ability of candidates to adapt and pivot in the face of adversity.