A high-stakes Democratic gubernatorial primary is underway in Wisconsin, with a socialist-backed candidate currently leading the field. Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has garnered 26% support among likely voters in the state's August 11 primary. Former Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes trails behind at 15%, while nearly half of those questioned remain undecided. This primary is part of a larger battle for the ideological future of the party in a crucial swing state.
The Democratic primary field is crowded, with candidates vying to succeed retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Hong has received backing from Wisconsin-based DSA chapters and top progressive figures, including Reps. Ilhan Omar and Ro Khanna. Her platform includes guaranteed paid leave and a one-year moratorium on building AI data centers in Wisconsin. However, she has faced scrutiny over past social media posts calling for defunding and abolishing the police, which her campaign says she no longer supports.
A recent poll indicates that Wisconsin's current lieutenant governor, Sara Rodriguez, had 11% support before dropping out of the race. After her supporters' votes were transferred to their second choice, Hong's lead over Barnes narrowed to 27% to 18%. Other Democratic candidates, such as Joel Brennan and Kelda Roys, have registered in the low single digits. The poll also shows Barnes edging Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany 44%-40% in a hypothetical general election matchup, while Hong trails Tiffany 43%-40%.
The poll was conducted between July 8-16, surveying 838 registered Wisconsin voters, including 695 likely voters. The overall sampling error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points, with a margin of error of plus or minus 6.1 percentage points for likely Democratic primary voters. The primary is shaping up to be a key statewide showdown between the far-left and the center-left establishment, with significant implications for the party's ideological future.
Following Rodriguez's departure from the race, former Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has re-entered the contest. Crowley had previously dropped out to back Rodriguez but now has the support of outgoing Gov. Evers, who has endorsed him as the "best candidate" to defeat Tom Tiffany in November. Tiffany is currently on track to secure the Republican nomination, facing off against long-shot candidate Andy Manske in the GOP primary.
