DSA Dealt Major Loss in Wisconsin

Democratic Socialist of America member and Wisconsin state legislator Francesca Hong has lost the Democratic nomination to be the state’s gubernatorial candidate.

In Tuesday night’s Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley was declared the victor by the Associated Press early Wednesday morning at 3:34 a.m. EDT, capturing 39.8% of the vote to state Rep. Francesca Hong’s 39.4%.

“Now, David is focused on bringing people together, earning the support of Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and anyone who believes Wisconsin is at its best when we work together and deliver results,” Crowley’s campaign manager Garren Randolph said in a statement.

The primary matchup was the latest test of whether centrist Democrats can maintain control of the party against a resurgent progressive wing. Crowley, backed by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, will face Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., on the ballot in November.

Crowley’s Race

Throughout the campaign, Crowley emphasized his experience as a state legislator and was considered the establishment candidate.

Crowley, who served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2017 to 2020 before working as a county executive, worked to pass Wisconsin Act 12, a piece of legislation that reformed state and local revenue sharing. As county executive, he signed the largest property tax cut in Milwaukee County history.

On the trail, Crowley focused on expanding child care, backed electoral redistricting, and pushed for universal early childhood education.

Aside from the Evers endorsement, Crowley earned the support of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Laborers District Council. He also had the support of Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., whip of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Hong’s Battle

Leading up to the primary, Hong campaigned on a wide range of issues, such as universal child care, gender-affirming care, increased rental regulations, and “taxing the rich.”

Hong has also called for fully abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and giving illegal aliens government-issued IDs, as well as in-state college tuition, and supported the idea of creating taxpayer-funded grocery stores while abolishing taxes imposed on unions.

Other policies Hong supports include abolishing life sentences for juveniles, legalizing marijuana, and enshrining the right to abortion in the state constitution.

On the campaign trail, Hong has received pushback on previous statements ranging from “defund the police” to her thoughts on Thanksgiving.

“I support defunding the police as a first step to abolishing them,” Hong previously wrote on X.

She has since disavowed those comments, saying that she’s “not running to defund the police,” and has campaigned on policies to increase public housing and health care and turn empty parking lots into public spaces as a solution to drive down the crime rate.

In November of 2020, Hong urged her followers on X not to “gather” on Thanksgiving, which she referred to as a “colonizer holiday.”

“Please DON’T gather for the colonizer holiday,” she wrote.

In Feb. of 2022, she wrote “as if we weren’t invisible enough to those who don’t recognize the emotional & physical labor of service work, the worst of humanity comes out from folks ‘celebrating’ on another day capitalism tells you how to show love.”

Last week, however, Hong told Politico in an interview that she does not want to actually cancel Thanksgiving.

“I don’t want to cancel it,” Hong said. “I actually love it.”

Hong courted endorsements from the far left, with notable examples being Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and far-left social media influencer Hasan Piker.