Absentee Voting Begins as Divided Wisconsin Democrats Struggle Over Governor Candidates
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Wisconsin’s Democratic primary kicks off with in-person absentee voting, exposing deep divisions as far-left candidates like Francesca Hong compete with establishment figures, while party leaders scramble to control the process and undermine voter confidence.
In-person absentee voting opened Tuesday in Wisconsin, giving Democratic voters an early start in a primary race that highlights the party’s internal chaos ahead of the August 11 gubernatorial primary. The field includes state assemblywoman Francesca Hong, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist whose radical agenda finds support in liberal Madison, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who rejoined the race after a flip-flop and now relies on Governor Tony Evers’s endorsement—a clear sign of party bosses trying to steer the outcome.
Voters are split, with some praising Hong as “the burst of energy we need,” while others see Evers’s last-minute endorsement as just more meddling by Democratic elites desperate to maintain control. One Milwaukee resident even claimed Hong is the only one with the “fortitude” to take on President Donald Trump, while a retired attorney backed Crowley, hoping he can defeat Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in November. The party’s fractured base and lack of clear direction are on full display.
All five Democratic candidates are set to debate Tuesday night, but the party’s leadership is already embroiled in legal maneuvers. A judge will hear a lawsuit from the state Democratic Party, which wants to let voters who already mailed absentee ballots cancel and submit new ones—a move prompted by candidate withdrawals and the resulting confusion. This so-called ‘ballot spoiling’ raises concerns about election integrity, especially after tens of thousands of mail-in votes have already been cast. In-person absentee voting runs through August 9, and all absentee ballots must be received by the close of polls on August 11.