MADISON, Wis. (AP) 鈥� A is trying to rise above the party establishment’s chosen candidate who after another leading contender in Wisconsin’s chaotic primary race for governor on Tuesday.
The winner will advance to take on Republican in November in an open race that could test the limits of progressives’ appeal in a critical battleground state.
Democrats are hoping to capitalize on low approval ratings for President Donald Trump in a state he won in 2016 and 2024 to retain control of the governor鈥檚 office and flip both chambers of the Legislature to earn for the first time since 2010.
In other races, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy鈥檚 26-year-old is trying to win a five-way primary in Duffy鈥檚 old seat in the U.S. House. And Democrat Rebecca Cooke is looking to emerge from the primary to force a rematch with Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden in the state鈥檚 most hotly contested and narrowly divided congressional district.
Democratic socialist shakes up Wisconsin race, fueled by national movement
Single mother and former line cook Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, has tapped into Democratic anger with the party鈥檚 mainstream and Trump’s 鈥淢ake America Great Again鈥� movement.
The 37-year-old known for sprinkling her comments with profanity and leaning into her edgy and sometimes humorous social media profile excited the liberal wing of the party. Hong called for free childcare and healthcare and a moratorium on data center construction. But she also for defunding the police, saying at the race鈥檚 only debate that she would not support cutting law enforcement funding.
She also drew criticism for past social media posts where she called for canceling Thanksgiving because 鈥渨e should stop celebrating colonialism” and disparaged Valentine鈥檚 Day as 鈥渁nother day capitalism tells you how to show love.鈥�
Hong has since downplayed the posts as her attempt at making jokes.
Hong supporter Dan Jakubek, 44, of Marshall, dismissed concerns over Hong’s past statements and said her message of affordability is resonating across generations.
鈥淚’ve never seen so many young, out of high school, college students revved up for change,鈥� he said.
Establishment Democrats worried that a Hong win would make it easier for Tiffany to win in November, as her platform would be a tougher sell among moderate and independent voters who are critical in the swing state known for razor-thin election margins.
Gov. Tony Evers endorsed Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, saying he has the best chance of beating Tiffany in November.
at a Sunday night rally that they must come together after the primary to beat Tiffany.
鈥淥ur ultimate goal is to make sure we don鈥檛 have a MAGA extremist occupying the governor鈥檚 office,鈥� Crowley said.
Hong said she would welcome Evers’ support after the primary.
鈥淲e have to come together to beat Tom Tiffany,” she said Monday.
Hong voter Kelly McClurg, 40, of Sun Prairie, rejected concerns that Hong can’t beat Tiffany.
鈥淪he can win if people let her,鈥� she said, referring to Democrats who raise electability concerns.
Crowley voter Susan Uraneck, of Madison, said she wished that Evers had gotten involved sooner.
鈥淚 hope for the best,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s I say, it is what it is.鈥�
Hong is the first Asian American elected to the state Assembly in 2020. She is looking to become Wisconsin’s first female governor and first Asian American governor. Crowley would be the state’s first Black governor.
Chaotic Democratic primary saw candidates drop, come back in
Evers鈥� decision not to seek a third term created an open race for governor that initially had seven Democrats file to run.
Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez appeared to be making a move to consolidate mainstream Democratic support in July, but she dropped out in the middle of the month amid a . That led Crowley, who had dropped out a week earlier and endorsed Rodriguez, to , this time with Evers’ backing.
Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who was seen as an early front-runner after nearly beating Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson in 2022, less than two weeks before the election amid questions about inappropriate behavior.
Sean Duffy鈥檚 son-in-law looks to win back Duffy鈥檚 old congressional district
Alfonso is looking to become the youngest member of Congress by winning Wisconsin鈥檚 7th Congressional District, a seat previously held for nine years by his father-in-law before Duffy stepped down in 2019.
He secured Trump鈥檚 endorsement, who called him a 鈥淢AGA warrior,鈥� to separate him from the field that also includes Kevin Hermening, a Trump supporter and longtime Republican operative in the congressional district.
Trump spoke on a telephone rally for Alfonso on Monday night, calling him 鈥渁 fantastic young guy who鈥檚 going to be a star in Washington.鈥� It was the second event Trump hosted for Alfonso in the primary.
Alfonso鈥檚 candidacy drew blowback from some longtime Republican leaders in the district who said he was too young and inexperienced for the job, especially compared to Hermening.
Democrat Cooke looks for repeat race against Rep. Derrick Van Orden
Cooke, a former Democratic fundraiser and small business owner, faces a challenge from former Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District. Berge ran an underdog, insurgent campaign against Cooke, who was more well-known and better financed.
Cooke narrowly lost to Van Orden in 2024 and also ran in 2022 but lost in the Democratic primary that year.
Van Orden is one of Trump鈥檚 biggest supporters but will face a tough reelection bid in a narrowly divided district in a year where Trump鈥檚 approval ratings are low in Wisconsin.
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