The Democratic gubernatorial primary election in Wisconsin has concluded, with key takeaways from the results shaping the race between Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong and centrist David Crowley. The race reflects a broader, ongoing battle within the Democratic party, with both sides utilizing a strategy of ‘establishment’ candidates versus more progressive, ‘socialist’ elements.
Wisconsin’s primary elections, conducted on Tuesday, saw a significant number of voters participate, with 94% of votes counted by Wednesday morning. While the race is currently neck-and-neck, with 94% of votes counted between Crowley and Hong, the results suggest a considerable divide within the Democratic electorate.
Beyond Wisconsin, Alabama, Connecticut, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Vermont also held primary elections on Tuesday, highlighting a widespread push within the party to move further left. Notably, Vermont’s Democratic gubernatorial race saw Amanda Janoo secure 49.1% of the vote, while Aly Richards trailed with 46.5%, with approximately 98% of the vote counted. Republican incumbent Phil Scott won, while Republican challenger Rhett Marques secured 95.3% of the nomination, in Alabama.
The race has been fueled by growing voter dissatisfaction with the current party’s leadership, particularly regarding issues like tax policy, abortion access, and healthcare. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated a substantial increase in Democratic voters desiring candidates to prioritize further left policies.
Crowley, endorsed by current Governor Tony Evers, is slightly ahead with 39.9% of the vote, compared with Hong’s 39.5%.
With over seven in ten Democrats identifying as liberal, the campaign focuses on raising taxes on corporations and billionaires, expanding access to abortion, and implementing universal healthcare. However, unlike Abdul El-Sayed, who won the Michigan Democratic Senate primary earlier this month, Hong is without endorsements from prominent figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Hong has also faced criticism for past social media posts, including a 2020 X post criticizing the colonizer holiday, and a statement about canceling Thanksgiving. She has since clarified that she did not intend to cancel Thanksgiving, and has stated that she did not want to gather for the colonizer holiday.
Minnesota’s Democratic Senate primary also demonstrated momentum, with progressive Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, elected on a ticket with Governor Tim Walz in 2018, beating more moderate Representative Angie Craig. Flanagan won 59% of the votes while Craig trailed with 39.4%.
With 99% of the votes counted, Flanagan had won 59% of the votes while Lindell trailed behind, with 39.4% of the vote, according to AP.
Lindell received Trump’s endorsement in May, when the president wrote on Truth Social, “Mike will be SPECTACULAR!!! He truly loves Minnesota, as do I, and wants to bring it back from oblivion and embarrassment. He can do it!”
Demuth, who won the Republican primary for the 7th District, faced a tough battle against Democratic nominee Senator Amy Klobuchar, who won her party’s nomination in the aftermath of ‘Operation Metro Surge’, the Trump administration’s immigration deportation campaign in Minneapolis that resulted in the killing of two protesters by officers earlier this year.
Lindell received Trump’s endorsement in May, when the president wrote on Truth Social, “Mike will be SPECTACULAR!!! He truly loves Minnesota, as do I, and wants to bring it back from oblivion and embarrassment. He can do it!”
Demuth is an enduring Trump ally and proponent of the debunked claim that the 2020 presidential election was ‘stolen’ from the Republicans. Lindell received Trump’s endorsement in May, when the president wrote on Truth Social, “Mike will be SPECTACULAR!!! He truly loves Minnesota, as do I, and wants to bring it back from oblivion and embarrassment. He can do it!”
Democrat Shomari Figures won the Republican primary for the 1st District while Jenny Carl won the race for the 7th District.
Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, advanced to a run-off for the Republican Party’s nomination for the South Carolina US Senate seat in November’s election following her brother’s death.
In a race between 10 candidates, Graham received 32.7% of the vote and Ralph Norman trailed behind, with 24.7% of the vote, according to AP.
Graham will face existing US Representative Ralph Norman in an August 25 run-off. The eventual Republican nominee is favored to win in November.
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Source: Al Jazeera
