Moderate Crowley narrowly beats democratic socialist Hong in Wisconsin

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, in Tuesday's Wisconsin Democratic primary for governor, the Associated Press reports.

Why it matters: Hong's loss blunts progressives' recent momentum and hands moderate Democrats a chance to prove their electability in a crucial battleground state in November

• Crowley will vie to become Wisconsin's first Black governor.

Driving the news: Crowley managed to edge out Hong by about 3,000 votes Tuesday, with 98% of the votes counted.

Zoom out: The chaotic primary left moderate Democrats fractured, as some pursued other offices and others ended their campaigns over fundraising problems, lack of support or personal scandals.

• Hong made her working-class background central to her pitch to voters: A single mom and longtime service worker, she dropped out of college to cook full-time, rising from dishwasher to executive chef before co-owning a restaurant that closed in 2024 after years of financial strain that began during the pandemic.
• She faced scrutiny over past positions and social media posts she later walked back, including calls to defund the police and criticism of Thanksgiving as a racist holiday.
• Crowley similarly leaned on his own hardscrabble Milwaukee story: His family was once homeless, and he rose from community organizer to state lawmaker and eventually county executive.

The intrigue: Hong fell short without the traditional heavyweight endorsements from the left's biggest stars.

• Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declined to endorse Hong, focusing instead on congressional races.
• Her opponent, Crowley, was backed by the state's top Democrat, Gov. Tony Evers, who said he offered Democrats their best chance to win.

Zoom out: Republicans were eager to run against Hong in November. Democrats said the Republican Governors Association's millions in ads served to boost Hong.

• The bet didn't produce Republicans' preferred matchup.

What we're watching: Crowley will face Trump-endorsed Rep. Tom Tiffany in November, the Republican nominee.

• Tiffany voted against certifying former President Biden's 2020 wins in Arizona and Pennsylvania, backed a lawsuit seeking to prevent Wisconsin and other states from casting their Electoral College votes and has continued to question Biden's victory.
• Wisconsin's governor plays a role in certifying presidential and U.S. Senate election result, raising fears about how Tiffany could use the office if another close election is contested.

Go deeper: Bernie's revolution gets a test run for 2028 in Michigan and Wisconsin