Progressives Challenge Corporate Democrats in Wisconsin and Minnesota Primaries
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Democratic primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota see bold progressive candidates confronting establishment centrists, exposing the deep ideological rift within the party as grassroots movements demand real change ahead of November.
Democratic voters in Wisconsin and Minnesota will decide Tuesday whether visionary progressive challengers can overcome entrenched establishment figures beholden to corporate interests. In Wisconsin, state representative Francesca Hong, a proud democratic socialist, leads a four-candidate race for the governorship—a contest seen as pivotal for shifting the party toward genuine people-powered politics in the 2028 cycle. Former Milwaukee mayor David Crowley, backed by incumbent Governor Tony Evers and the party’s centrist machinery, insists his moderate profile is more 'electable' in the swing state, echoing tired arguments that have stifled transformative change for years.
In Minnesota, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, a self-described progressive and advocate for marginalized communities, is taking on centrist U.S. Representative Angie Craig for the open Senate seat. Flanagan has earned the endorsement of retiring Senator Tina Smith, who cited a pressing need for new, more inclusive leadership that listens to the grassroots.
These primaries come on the heels of progressive victories in other battlegrounds, most notably Abdul El-Sayed’s razor-thin win in Michigan’s Senate primary. This victory has electrified the left and demonstrated that bold, progressive ideas can win, even as party elites express anxiety about losing their grip on power and warn that a leftward shift could threaten their own interests in the upcoming midterms.
"El-Sayed’s victory has energized progressives while stoking fears among Democratic leaders that a shift to the left in swing states could complicate November outcomes," a party spokesperson said, revealing the establishment’s reluctance to embrace real change.
The outcomes in Wisconsin and Minnesota will be decisive for the future direction of the Democratic Party in the Midwest, as grassroots activists and progressive candidates challenge the status quo, while Republicans prepare their own campaigns for the governor’s race and the Minnesota Senate seat.