David Crowley wins Democratic Primary for Wisconsin Governor

On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has won the Democratic nomination for governor of Wisconsin, according to a race call by the Associated Press. He narrowly defeated state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist whose campaign had challenged the party establishment.

Crowley had at one point actually suspended his foundering campaign, facing low poll ratings and scarce campaign funds. But he relaunched it days later with the backing of outgoing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in an effort to turn back the momentum by Hong.

The Hong loss comes after progressives saw a series of wins in recent primaries around the country. But the narrow margin of the loss still signals Democratic voters seeking change.

Crowley, 40, would be the state’s first Black governor if he wins in the fall.

He will face U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is endorsed by Trump and won his party’s primary decisively. One of Congress’ most conservative members by voting record, Tiffany challenged 2020 election results. But as Trump’s approval ratings have fallen, Tiffany has worked to define himself as a Wisconsin everyman, and a steady alternative to Democratic chaos.

Republicans see the fall election as a chance to flip the governor’s mansion their way. Democrats hope to hold it and turn at least one chamber of the legislature, where both are now controlled by the GOP.

In Minnesota and Wisconsin, competitive primaries will again test power of progressive candidates.

Crowley’s supporters presented him as a more electable alternative to Hong, whose past statements about defunding police, abolishing prisons and canceling Thanksgiving would give Republicans some lines of attack as they geared up for November.

He raised almost three times as much money after relaunching his campaign as he had in the entire year prior to when he had briefly suspended it. He told voters that national Republican-aligned groups spent millions propping up Hong, ostensibly in an effort to select an opponent they saw as beatable.

On the Republican side of the race, Rep. Tom Tiffany won the Republican nomination for Wisconsin governor’s race.

Tiffany won the party’s nomination with 97 percent of the vote, according to the Associated Press. However, rather than a wide field of candidates like in the Democratic primary, Tiffany faced only one opponent. Andy Manske, a twenty-seven-year-old, medical service technician from Greenfield, WI. Manske billed himself as the only “non-politician” in the race. However, both Wisconsin and national Republicans chose to back the more experienced Tiffany rather than the first-time candidate.

Other races around Wisconsin:
The 2026 Wis. District 1 Democratic Primary for the U.S. House was won by Mitchell Berman who will face Republican Bryan Steil in November.
The 2026 Wis. District 4 Democratic Primary was won by Congress Woman Gwen Moore who will face Republican winner Tim Rogers in November.
The 2026 Wis. District 5 Democratic Primary was won by Andrew Beck and will face Republican Scott Fitzgerald.
The 2026 Wis. Democratic Primary for WI Attorney General was won by Josh Kaul, who ran unopposed, and will face Republican Eric Toney.
The 2026 Wis. Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor was won by Sarah Godlewski who will face Republican David Varnam.
2026 Wis. Democratic Primary for Treasurer was won by Yee Leng Xiong who will face Republican Primary winner John S. Leiber in the November General Election.