The Democratic Party’s primary race for the position of governor of the US state of Wisconsin was decided in the last moments, after an intense competition that remained open until the last votes were counted, ending with David Crowley’s victory over his progressive rival, Francesca Hong, in a result that constituted a setback for the progressive movement within the party in one of the electoral swing states.
According to a report by journalist Eli Leon on the Israeli “Maariv” website, based on what was reported by the British newspaper “The Guardian”, David Crowley, a prominent official in Milwaukee County, achieved a dramatic victory in the Democratic primary elections for the position of governor of the state of Wisconsin, beating his progressive rival, Francesca Hong, even though she was comfortably ahead in the early opinion polls.
Crowley’s victory came after he returned to the race at a late stage, and received important support from outgoing Governor Tony Evers.
The competition was very close and tense, and was not resolved until the final votes were counted.
Hong, a former chef and restaurant owner from Madison, campaigned on a platform that included providing universal childcare, free school meals, and a freeze on the construction of new server farms.
However, previous statements sparked controversy around her and affected her chances during the final stage of the race, including a post in which she called for canceling Thanksgiving, in addition to her support for reducing police budgets, although she later tried to move away from some of these positions.
On the other hand, Crowley focused his campaign on what he considered the “winnability” factor, as he said that he had the best chances of defeating Tom Tiffany, the Republican congressman and strong supporter of US President Donald Trump, who ran in the primaries within his party without competitors.
Tiffany is also known to have been among those who voted against certifying the results of the 2020 US presidential elections.
“We knew that the stake was too big for me to remain on the sidelines,” Crowley said in an interview with The Guardian, explaining that voters are looking for executive leadership and someone with a record they can trust.
The race for governor of Wisconsin has witnessed a series of fluctuations in recent weeks, most notably the withdrawal of leading candidate Sarah Rodriguez due to campaign finance violations, a development that paved the way for Crowley’s return to the competition.
Mandla Barnes also withdrew from the race during July.
This race is of great importance to the Democratic Party, which seeks to retain the position of governor of the state, in parallel with its attempt to control both chambers of the legislature in Wisconsin, allowing it to fully advance its political program.
In another in-state race, western Wisconsin voters chose Rebecca Cook, a moderate Democrat, to run against Republican Derek Van Orden in the 3rd Congressional District.
Cook received the support of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, a move that angered local authorities who saw it as unfair interference in the primary elections at the expense of her competitor, Emily Berg.
Thus, Crowley’s victory was not limited to resolving a very close internal race, but it also revealed the extent of the conflict within the Democratic Party between its progressive wing and the current that is betting on more moderate and winnable candidates in a state that may once again play a decisive role in the upcoming American elections.
