Wisconsin Gubernatorial Race Heats Up

In a significant shift in Wisconsin politics, Representative Francesca Hong, affiliated with the Democratic Socialist Party of America, is emerging as the front-runner in the upcoming Democratic primary for governor. A recent Marquette Law School poll indicates that she has garnered 26% support among likely voters ahead of the primary scheduled for August 11.

Following her is former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Burns with 15%. Interestingly, nearly half of the respondents still haven’t made up their minds about whom to support. Both Hong and Burns are vying to fill the position left by outgoing Democratic Governor Tony Evers, who has opted not to pursue a third term.

This primary, coupled with Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary taking place on August 4, marks a pivotal moment for the party, revealing the ongoing ideological divides between its far-left and center-left factions.

Hong’s campaign is not just generating buzz locally; she has gained backing from well-known progressive figures, including Rep. Ilhan Omar from Minnesota and Rep. Ro Khanna of California, who may be eyeing a presidential run in 2028. Her platform focuses on issues like paid time off for workers and a temporary halt on AI data center constructions in Wisconsin.

However, it’s worth mentioning that her past social media posts advocating for police defunding and abolition have attracted significant criticism. Although her campaign asserts that she now distances herself from those earlier views, the scrutiny may linger.

The current poll also reflects the situation of Wisconsin’s lieutenant governor, Sara Rodriguez, who had 11% support but withdrew from the race following complications with campaign finance reports. In light of her departure, when her supporters were asked to choose their second preference, Hong took a lead over Burns with 27% to 18%.

Among other candidates, former Wisconsin Executive Joel Brennan and State Senator Kelda Roys are trailing with single-digit percentages. After Rodriguez stepped back from the election, former Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has re-entered the race, having previously withdrawn in favor of Rodriguez. Governor Evers has endorsed Crowley, deeming him the best candidate to face Republican Tom Tiffany.

Tiffany, who is anticipated to secure the Republican nomination, is contending against Andy Manske in his primary. According to the same poll, if the general election were to occur now, Burns would lead Tiffany 44% to 40%, while Hong would also surpass Tiffany with 43% to 40%.

The survey, conducted from July 8 to July 16, included responses from 838 registered voters—695 of whom are potential voters. The margin of error stands at plus or minus 4.5 percentage points overall, with a slightly higher error of plus or minus 6.1 percentage points for likely Democratic primary voters.