The Wisconsin Democratic primary is turning into the latest test of the party’s leftward push, with Francesca Hong emerging as the frontrunner in a race that could shape both the governor’s office and the broader fight for the Midwest. The contest in Wisconsin comes after a closely watched Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, and it lands at a moment when progressives and moderates are battling for control of the party’s direction heading into the 2026 midterms.
Hong, a state representative and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is the polling leader in the Wisconsin race for governor. Her campaign has drawn support from well-known progressives, including Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Ro Khanna of California. Sen. Bernie Sanders did not endorse her, saying he was not familiar enough with her campaign or the race. Hong’s platform includes guaranteed paid leave, raising Wisconsin’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $20 an hour, and a one-year pause on building AI data centers in the state.
Hong has also faced questions over older social media posts. She once called for defunding and abolishing the police, but now says she no longer supports cutting police budgets or eliminating police departments. Speaking to voters on Saturday, she said, “I’m not defunding the police, not abolishing police. I am serious about public safety.” She also faced backlash after a 2020 post resurfaced in which she argued that the country should “cancel Thanksgiving” to “stop celebrating colonialism.” Hong later walked those comments back and said Thanksgiving is now her “favorite holiday.” She told reporters on Saturday that she has “evolved” and “learned.”
The race matters because the primary winner is expected to face Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in the general election. Tiffany, who is backed by President Donald Trump, is the clear frontrunner on the GOP side and a member of the House Freedom Caucus. He said Wisconsin would be a “firewall” and that the state would be the place that stops socialism. Democratic strategist worries are growing that Hong at the top of the ticket could make it harder for Democrats to hold down-ballot seats in congressional and legislative races. At the same time, some pro-GOP super PACs have spent money to boost Hong in the primary, believing she would be the weakest Democrat in the general election.
The Wisconsin Democratic primary has already been reshaped by major exits and re-entries. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes both left the race this summer, while Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley re-entered after earlier suspending his campaign and backing Rodriguez. Gov. Tony Evers, who chose not to seek a third term, has backed Crowley. That backdrop has made the Wisconsin Democratic primary an unusually volatile fight for a state that is expected to be one of the nation’s most closely watched governor’s races.
