Tony Evers, the state’s two-term Democratic governor, declined to seek reëlection, setting up a competitive race in a purple state that President Trump won, in 2024, by less than a percentage point. In the Democratic primary, the state assemblywoman Francesca Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, was defeated by David Crowley, the Milwaukee county executive, who had previously suspended his campaign. Hong had been endorsed by several national progressive figures, including Representatives Ro Khanna and Ilhan Omar. She has also received national scrutiny for some of her past social-media posts, in which she advocated abolishing the police and cancelling Thanksgiving, which she accused of “celebrating colonialism.” (Hong has since walked back her position on defunding the police and has said that Thanksgiving is her “favorite holiday.”)
Initially, Hong’s main challenger was Mandela Barnes, the former lieutenant governor, but Barnes dropped out of the race in late July, citing polls that suggested Hong’s lead was insurmountable. Crowley quickly relaunched his campaign, and announced that he had received an endorsement from Governor Evers.
On the Republican side, Tom Tiffany, MAGA Republican endorsed by Donald Trump, has secured the nomination.
