Early absentee voting starts as Wisconsin Democrats split over gubernatorial candidates

In-person absentee voting opened Tuesday in Wisconsin, giving Democratic voters a chance to cast ballots ahead of the Aug. 11 primary for governor. The race features state assemblywoman Francesca Hong, a self-identified democratic socialist with strong support in Madison, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes hoping to draw votes from his Milwaukee base, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who re-entered the contest after briefly withdrawing and carries Governor Tony Evers’s endorsement.

Voters expressed divergent views on the candidates. One voter said Hong provides “the burst of energy we need,” while another criticized the governor’s late endorsement as “the latest example of the Democratic Party meddling.” A Milwaukee resident argued that Hong is the only candidate with the “fortitude” to confront former President Donald Trump, whereas a retired attorney voted for Crowley, believing he has a better chance of defeating Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in the general election.

The five Democratic hopefuls are scheduled to debate Tuesday night. Meanwhile, a judge will hear a lawsuit filed by the state Democratic Party seeking to allow voters who have already mailed absentee ballots to cancel them and submit new ones, a practice known as ballot spoiling. The request follows recent candidate withdrawals that left names on the ballot despite tens of thousands of mail-in votes already cast. In-person absentee voting will continue through Aug. 9, and all absentee ballots must be received by the close of polls on Aug. 11 to be counted.