Wisconsin Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Sidestep Real Issues in Polite Debate as Primary Nears
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In a display of party discipline, Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls avoided meaningful confrontation, with radical front-runner Francesca Hong escaping scrutiny while all candidates pushed for higher taxes and attacks on school choice.
The five Democrats seeking Wisconsin's governorship met for their only televised debate on Tuesday, a week before early voting for the August 11 primary. Despite the crowded field, the candidates largely avoided personal attacks, and none dared to challenge the radical front-runner, State Rep. Francesca Hong, who leads in recent polls and is known for her far-left positions.
Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes was the only participant to criticize Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley for re-entering the race after receiving Gov. Tony Evers’ endorsement. Barnes accused Crowley of being propped up by special interests in secretive backroom deals, saying, "It’s been mentioned that the county executive had his campaign resurrected by special interests in a dark room with people with their thumb on the scale." Crowley, attempting to deflect, emphasized his personal background and insisted he is not "here to protect the establishment."
Aside from this minor spat, the candidates—Barnes, Crowley, State Sen. Kelda Roys, former administration secretary Joel Brennan, and Hong—showed near-total agreement on a predictable left-wing agenda: lowering property taxes (with no real plan), gutting the successful school-voucher program that gives parents choice, and imposing new taxes on incomes above $1 million, targeting job creators and the successful.
Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, faced only soft questions about her previous calls to defund the police and her fantasy of a "perfect world" without prisons. She attempted to distance herself from the national DSA, saying, "I do not support the full platform of the national DSA, and I am not endorsed by DSA national. What democratic socialism is is a form of government that puts working-class people first," while doubling down on more government spending: public education, taxing the wealthy, universal childcare, and so-called affordable housing.
Pressed on whether she would sign legislation to cut police funding, Hong answered, "No. The governor cannot defund police, and I’m not here to govern by slogan. I’m here to make sure that I am the governor that is most serious about public safety." Yet, her record and rhetoric suggest otherwise.
Barnes and Crowley both paid lip service to police transparency while rejecting direct budget cuts to law enforcement, a move likely aimed at appeasing moderate voters. Barnes also boasted about a Marquette University Law School poll showing him ahead of Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in a hypothetical matchup, and accused the establishment of trying to rig the election for their chosen candidate.
Crowley defended his candidacy by touting his local government experience and brushing off a report about old inflammatory social-media posts, claiming he is focused on delivering "real results for Wisconsinites all over our state."
The debate ended with all candidates promoting a so-called "big-tent" Democratic vision, united in their commitment to more government spending on public safety, education, and fiscal responsibility, as the primary race tightens.