Bloomberg Surveillance · Wednesday, August 12, 2026
In a surprising upset, moderate David Crowley is projected to win Wisconsin's gubernatorial primary, defeating Democratic socialist Francesca Hong. Analysts attribute Hong's loss to a shoestring campaign, controversial statements, and a lack of traditional campaign infrastructure, despite favorable early polling.
“You sign Wisconsin that Francesca Hong really ran a shoestring campaign and didn't even run ads in the general election, and this really mattered.”
“I think that Francesca Hong was a unique candidate and unique and not great ways. As reporter mentioned, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Costio Cortez did. Not endorse her. She did not have the candidate skills that we saw of an Abdula say Ed last week.”
“But I think that Hong hurt herself by going on such a media tour and really saying things that felt outside of the mainstream I think even for progressives.”