Socialist fever breaks: Takeaways from Crowley's win

David Crowley, a Milwaukee County Executive, edged out socialist Francesca Hong by approximately 3,000 votes in Wisconsin's Democratic primary for governor, marking a setback for the progressive left's momentum. This result comes after Crowley's own polls suggested he was trailing Hong by nearly 20 points. The win could reignite the center-left's momentum, which had been faltering in recent primaries, including the recent Senate contest in Michigan and House races nationwide.

However, the day was not a total loss for progressives. Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, a progressive, won Democratic primary for Senate by a margin of 20 points, facing Republican nominee Michele Tafoya, a former NFL TV reporter, in November. Progressives also received a boost when Matt Little was nominated to replace Rep. Angie Craig in Congress.

In other key races, South Carolina's Sen. Darline Graham, who succeeded her late brother Lindsey Graham, advanced to a GOP runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman for a full six-year term. Minnesota's Sen. Amy Klobuchar secured a victory in the Democratic primary for governor, set to face state House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who defeated Trump-endorsed Mike Lindell for the GOP nomination.

Progressive Democrats now face the challenge of uniting after the party establishment's last-minute efforts to thwart Hong's campaign. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers endorsed Crowley, causing frustration among some Democratic voters, who questioned his intentions. Crowley's campaign emphasized Hong's unpopularity among voters and her controversial posts, such as calls to cancel Thanksgiving and defund the police.

Wisconsin's November election is anticipated to be historic, with the GOP's nominee, Rep. Tom Tiffany, becoming the first person who voted to overturn the 2020 presidential results to govern a swing state if elected. Crowley would be the first Black governor in Wisconsin history. Tiffany aims to project a more approachable image, branding himself as a "girl dad" who grew up milking cows on a Wisconsin dairy farm, campaigning alongside former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Nevertheless, Crowley's win presents Republicans with a formidable opponent. A GOP group invested heavily in ads to promote Hong, indicating they viewed her as the weaker candidate. Democrats may be cautious about Tiffany becoming governor in the 2028 presidential race due to his efforts to debunk the 2020 election and his false claims of widespread voter fraud in Wisconsin.

Notable progressive Democrats like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez opted not to endorse Hong. As Hong campaigned, electability emerged as a significant concern for voters, with her previous statements frequently scrutinized and her reputation questioned by the electorate.