Francesca Hong and David Crowley face tight race in Wisconsin's Democratic primary

In Wisconsin, the Democratic primary for governor was highly competitive, with state Representative Francesca Hong and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley locked in a close race. As of early Wednesday morning, the results were too close to call, with only a few hundred votes separating the two candidates. The primary was marked by unexpected twists, including Crowley's brief withdrawal from the race before re-entering with the support of outgoing Democratic Governor Tony Evers. Evers campaigned vigorously for Crowley, emphasizing his electability in the general election against Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany.

The campaign saw significant scrutiny of Hong's positions, which some Democrats viewed as too far left for a swing state like Wisconsin. This concern was compounded by the fact that many voters remained undecided as the election approached. The primary lacked a clear front-runner for much of the year, with other candidates like Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes also participating but ultimately pulling a combined 20% of the vote. Rodriguez exited the race due to campaign finance issues, while Barnes dropped out after a narrow loss in the previous Senate race.

The tight race was further complicated by a ruling from a Wisconsin judge that prevented voters who had returned absentee ballots from requesting new ones, even if their chosen candidates had exited the race. This ruling added to the uncertainty surrounding the election, as many voters were left with limited options. In Dane County, a key liberal area, candidate Rebecca Roys garnered close to 11% of the vote, indicating a divided electorate.

As the results continued to come in, the Democratic nominee would face a challenging general election against Tom Tiffany, who had already secured the Republican nomination. The outcome of this primary could significantly impact the Democratic Party's chances in the upcoming gubernatorial election, highlighting the deep divisions within the party and the varying strategies employed by candidates to appeal to voters in a critical battleground state.