Wisconsin state legislator and democratic socialist Francesca Hong has a significant lead over her rivals in the primary for governor, which will take place on Tuesday. A victory for Hong would be another achievement for the left wing of the Democratic Party, which is gaining influence after the victory of Abdul El-Sayed in the U.S. Senate primary in Michigan and the influence of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on the congressional elections.
Hong advocates for raising taxes on wealthy Americans and abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She has also recently faced criticism for expressing contempt for a revered American holiday. While running for governor, she has attempted to soften some of her more radical positions, including calls to defund the police and a long-standing comment about abolishing Thanksgiving. However, Hong still holds a position significantly to the left of most Democrats at the national level.
Concerns among establishment Democrats
Hong’s leadership in Wisconsin, where in 2024 President Donald Trump won by a narrow margin, has raised concerns among the establishment of the Democratic Party. They fear that a more radical candidate will make it harder for the party to win against Republicans in November. “This election is an interesting test of how people react to the ‘socialist’ label,” said Julia Azari, a political science professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee. She questioned how Mamdani’s victory in New York will affect how Democrats are perceived in Wisconsin or Nebraska.
This race is one of several across the country that Democrats will be watching on Tuesday. In Minnesota, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, a progressive candidate, received the endorsement of her state’s party organization over a more moderate candidate, U.S. Representative Angie Craig, in the race for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Tina Smith, who is not seeking re-election.
Nationally, Trump and Republicans, facing low presidential approval ratings due to the economic situation, are trying to exploit the Democrats’ internal divisions. They portray the progressive wing as emblematic of the party as a whole, arguing that its positions do not align with the views of independent voters, who often determine election outcomes. In Wisconsin, Democrats are seeking to retain the governor’s office and regain control of the state Assembly and Senate, which would be their first simultaneous control of all three institutions in over 15 years.
The winner of the gubernatorial primary will almost certainly face Republican Tom Tiffany, a U.S. congressman and active supporter of Trump’s conservative policies under the MAGA brand. “Democrats have capitulated to socialism,” Tiffany said in an interview with Fox News last week. “They refuse to stand up to it in Wisconsin.”
David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, backed by Governor Evers, has emerged as a more moderate candidate and emphasizes his ability to attract the much-needed voters who do not have a stable party affiliation in November. “Crowley is the only candidate with executive experience who has actually delivered results and can win the primary and general elections,” said Eddie Vale, a spokesman for Crowley’s campaign.
Hong’s victory in the primary is not guaranteed. It is difficult to assess her lead in the polls due to the recent withdrawal of several candidates from the race. Additionally, in Wisconsin, voters can register on election day and choose a party’s primary to participate in, making it difficult to determine likely voters. However, a Marquette Law School poll published before Barnes dropped out of the race showed Hong leading with 38% support, particularly strong among progressive and young voters. Polls over the past month have consistently shown her with a significant lead.
Wisconsin has a long tradition of left-wing politics. Over a century ago, Robert La Follette was one of the leading progressive leaders in the country, his career including stints as governor, senator, and third-party presidential candidate. Milwaukee, the state’s largest city, elected three socialist mayors between 1910 and 1960 and became the center of “sewer socialism”—a pragmatic movement that advocated for improving public services rather than radical changes. According to the Milwaukee Public Library, the city was also the headquarters of the Socialist Party of America.
One of Hong’s advantages in November will be Trump’s low approval rating, noted Nathan Kalmoe, executive administrative director of the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Another advantage is that many Democratic voters are dissatisfied with their own party and increasingly open to alternatives. “This is certainly not an isolated case,” he said. “It reflects the mood among Democratic voters who support outsider candidates who are not part of the status quo.”
Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old former chef and restaurant owner, calls for the expansion of BadgerCare, the state’s Medicaid program, as well as the implementation of a one-year moratorium on the construction of data processing centers and funding for the construction of affordable housing. Hong also advocates for universal childcare.
Regardless of the electorate’s views on her political positions, Hong’s position has been significantly strengthened by the missteps of her Democratic competitors in the race to replace Governor Tony Evers, who declined to seek re-election. Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez dropped out of the race last month, citing a campaign finance scandal. Two weeks later, former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, who was the closest to Hong in the polls, ended his candidacy amid allegations of misconduct. Although both candidates remain on the ballot, their decision to withdraw has effectively turned the race into a two-way contest between Hong and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who had suspended his campaign but resumed it after Rodriguez ended her bid.
Source: Bloomberg
