Hong loses Wisconsin primary

Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist state representative, lost Wisconsin's closely watched Democratic gubernatorial primary to Milwaukee Democrat David Crowley, who had the endorsement of Governor Tony Evers.

Crowley faces Republican in fall

Crowley will now face Republican Representative Tom Tiffany in the general election this fall. Hong has already returned to campaigning, this time to help Democrats win a trifecta in Wisconsin.

What a trifecta means

A Democratic trifecta means winning the governor's race and both legislative chambers. For sixteen years, a Republican majority in the state legislature has blocked progressive policies that the majority of Wisconsin voters support.

Policies on the table

With a Democratic trifecta, Wisconsin could pass increasing minimum wage, legalizing marijuana, codifying abortion, and repealing Act ten, which dramatically restricted collective bargaining rights for public-sector employees.

Rural communities and manufacturing

Hong says Democrats have fallen behind in rural Wisconsin because manufacturing jobs have left the state and supports for small farmers have declined, leaving people feeling the impacts of corporate control and greed.

Data centers as central issue

Hong's campaign focused heavily on stopping data centers. She argues the issue is about democracy and whether people feel they have control and a say in what happens in their communities.

Crowley's different approach

David Crowley has not committed to a moratorium on data centers but has committed to one hundred percent renewable energy to power them and requiring developers to pay their own way, which Hong says can…

Evers's endorsement impact

Governor Evers's endorsement of Crowley changed the race significantly, allowing Crowley to win in smaller communities where Hong had positioned herself as the voice of rural Wisconsin.

Hong's disappointment

Hong said she was disappointed by Evers's endorsement because she was getting feedback from uncommitted voters that it felt like the governor was putting his thumb on the scale.

“I was disappointed because I was getting a lot of feedback from folks who hadn't committed to any candidate yet that this felt like the governor was putting his thumb on the scale.”

The electability argument

Evers's endorsement was partly driven by concerns about Hong's democratic socialist label and her campaigning with figures like Hasan Piker on platforms including Twitch streams.

Hong on electability

Hong argues that the most electable candidate is the one who gets the most votes, which was Crowley. She says using electability as a fear tactic is shortsighted when Democrats need to inspire voters.

“the person who is most electable is the person who ended up getting the most votes, and that was Crowley this time around.”

Disservice to new voters

Hong says there is a disservice when the most powerful Democrat in the state ignores voters inspired and energized by her campaign, many coming out to participate in politics for the first time.

“I think there's a disservice when you have the most powerful Democrat in the state choosing to ignore a lot of voters and people who were inspired and energized and coming out to participate in politics for the first time through our campaign.”

The vote margin

Hong received over three hundred thousand votes and lost by fewer than four thousand votes. She had more votes than Evers did during his primary, showing her campaign's strength.

Wisconsin's national importance

Hong argues that Wisconsin is a pivotal swing state for federal elections. If Democrats deliver results through a trifecta, it improves the Democratic brand and encourages voters to support Democrats nationally.

Durable Democratic power

Hong says that showing durable power for Democrats in Wisconsin through prioritized policies and increased voter turnout is good for the health of democracy and helps Democrats beyond the state.

Hong's next focus

Hong is focused on continuing to work to ensure Democrats win the trifecta in Wisconsin, saying that is the most important thing the party should be focusing on right now.