Wisconsin Primary: Crowley Upsets Hong in Governor's Race

Voters in several states headed to the polls on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, for a series of primary elections that delivered mixed results for the Democratic Party's progressive and establishment wings, while also testing the influence of former President Donald Trump's endorsements. The most closely watched race was in Wisconsin, where Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley pulled off a stunning upset to win the Democratic nomination for governor, defeating progressive state Representative Francesca Hong by a razor-thin margin.

With nearly all votes counted, Crowley led Hong by approximately 3,200 votes, or less than half a percentage point. The final tally showed Crowley with 313,321 votes, or 39.8 percent, and Hong with 310,110 votes, or 39.4 percent. The result defied pre-election polling that had consistently shown Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, with a double-digit lead. The Associated Press called the race for Crowley early Wednesday morning, August 12, after a tabulation delay in Milwaukee.

The primary was marked by a chaotic election night. Milwaukee County officials reported that five of nine USB drives containing election results were initially...