David Crowley wins tight Wisconsin Democratic primary, setting up race against Trump-aligned Rep. Tom Tiffany
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated Francesca Hong in the Democratic primary and will face Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, a staunch Trump supporter, in the Wisconsin governor's race.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley edged out state Assembly member Francesca Hong by less than half a point in Tuesday's Democratic primary, securing the party’s nomination for Wisconsin governor. The upset overturns earlier polling that had Hong as the front-runner and positions Crowley against Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who has voted in line with President Donald Trump on every recorded vote.
Crowley, who has a record of bipartisan cooperation in Milwaukee, said his campaign will unite progressive and moderate voters to defeat what he called a “MAGA extremist.” He pledged to focus on Tiffany’s ties to the former president and the Make America Great Again movement.
Former Republican Governor Scott Walker noted that Tiffany will need to distance himself from Trump’s agenda as he runs for governor, while former state Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz said Crowley’s victory forces the campaign to address issues such as affordability, the conflict in Iran and health-care costs.
Wisconsin’s elections have been decided by narrow margins in recent cycles; Trump won the state by less than one percentage point in 2016 and 2024, and lost by a similar margin in 2020. Crowley’s primary win, also decided by a fraction of a point, underscores the state’s reputation for close contests.
Democrats hope the general election will capitalize on Trump’s declining approval ratings to retain the governor’s office and potentially gain control of both legislative chambers, achieving a trifecta for the first time since 2010.
Tiffany responded by linking Crowley to Hong, arguing that the Democratic candidate’s record in Milwaukee County would lead to higher taxes and government mismanagement. Republican strategist Rusty Schultz warned that mobilizing the younger voters who supported Hong in the primary will be challenging.
Crowley, 40, became the first Black candidate to win a major party’s nomination for Wisconsin governor. He previously withdrew from the race in early July, citing a lack of viable path, but re-entered ten days later with the endorsement of Governor Tony Evers. Crowley emphasized that his historic candidacy is secondary to the work he aims to accomplish in office.