Wisconsin Democrats moves to stop DSA governor hopeful

Wisconsin's August 11 Democratic gubernatorial primary has escalated into a significant party conflict, with establishment leaders mobilizing against state Rep. Francesca Hong, a Democratic Socialist Alliance candidate gaining traction among primary voters. The race underwent dramatic shifts in recent weeks. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley initially suspended his campaign nine days ago to support Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, the establishment favorite. However, Rodriguez's bid collapsed after mishandled financial records emerged. Party leaders then persuaded Crowley to re-enter the race, and Governor Tony Evers broke his neutrality to endorse him—a striking move widely interpreted as an anti-Hong maneuver. A Marquette Law School Poll revealed Hong leading the primary with 26% support, with nearly half of Democratic voters undecided. Notably, over half of Democratic primary voters viewed democratic socialists favorably, while only about 10% viewed them unfavorably. According to UW-Madison political science professor Barry Burden, "The environment is so good for them nationally that this is a real opportunity" to control state government. Democratic leaders worry Hong's ideology "might be material that Republicans could use against Democrats" in the general election. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political scientist Anthony Chergosky characterized this as "a test of the DSA's viability unlike any that we've seen before," potentially determining whether progressive candidates can win statewide nominations in competitive swing states rather than just deep-blue districts.