Republicans Now Favorites to Win Wisconsin Governor Election Amid Dem Chaos
Wisconsin's turbulent Democratic primary may have tilted the governor's race toward the Republican Party this November.
Republicans have now emerged as the favorites to win the Wisconsin governor's election, according to recent market odds. Prediction-market trading platform Kalshi has given the Republican Party a 53% chance of victory, compared to 48% for Democrats, as of Monday. This shift was prompted by a tumultuous Democratic primary, which has seen a series of withdrawals and reversals.
Notably, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley withdrew from the race, endorsed Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, only to re-enter after Rodriguez withdrew due to a campaign finance controversy. Former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes also dropped out of the race less than two weeks before the primary, following allegations of inappropriate behavior that were later found to be without merit.
Barnes denied any wrongdoing. The Democratic race now features Milwaukee Democratic-Socialist Rep. Francesca Hong and Crowley as the leading contenders, with Hong currently ahead by a double-digit margin in a Marquette University Law School poll. The winner of the primary will likely face Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Tiffany has framed the race as a choice between a "socialist agenda" and "common sense." Given Wisconsin's status as a closely divided swing state, the outcome of this election could have significant implications for state policy and the balance of power in the state legislature, which has often clashed with the Democratic governor, Tony Evers.
Democrats are aiming to retain the governorship while positioning themselves to challenge GOP control of the legislature, which would grant either party unified control of state government.
Brief written by urgent.news from Newsweek's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
