MADISON, Wis. (AP) 鈥� Wisconsin voter Ian Anderson couldn’t have been happier to cast his ballot Tuesday for Francesca Hong in the swing state’s primary for governor.
鈥淪he’s exactly the burst of energy we need,鈥� Anderson said after voting early in the liberal stronghold of Madison.
But 80 miles down the road in Milwaukee, Democratic voter Steve Wiesner said if Hong wins the Aug. 11 primary he will vote Republican for the first time in his life.
鈥淚 would never support her or any DSA candidate at this point,鈥� Wiesner said, using the acronym for Democratic Socialists of America. He voted for longshot candidate Joel Brennan.
Their views demonstrate the dilemma for Democrats in Wisconsin as they hope to win the governor’s race against a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump in a year that should favor Democrats.
But a , and the rise of Hong, has amplified angst among voters and party insiders that Democrats may be squandering their chances to retain control of the governor鈥檚 office and flip both chambers of the Legislature to earn for the first time since 2010.
Democratic socialist Hong divides early Wisconsin voters
The insurgent Hong has among the most liberal wing of the party. , who narrowly lost a 2022 U.S. Senate race, is hoping that voters in his hometown of Milwaukee help him overcome Hong, whose base is in Madison. Those two cities hold the largest number of Democratic voters in Wisconsin.
Also in the race is Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who is running with the endorsement of Gov. Tony Evers. Crowley had dropped out of the race on July 8, but on July 17, the day after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez amid a campaign finance scandal.
Anderson, who was among voters who cast in-person early ballots on the first day Tuesday, said he was 鈥渧ery frustrated鈥� by Evers’ late endorsement in the race.
鈥淚t’s the latest example of the Democratic Party meddling,鈥� said Anderson, who works for the state Department of Natural Resources.
Nicole Santos, 45, said Hong was the only primary candidate with the 鈥渇ortitude鈥� to stand up to Trump.
鈥淭o get back on track we need to go a little further left,鈥� she said.
Some Democratic voters make choice based on electability
Crowley voters on Tuesday said they backed him because they believed he had a better shot at beating Republican in November. Tiffany, who is running with the backing of Trump in a state Trump won in 2016 and 2024, faces only nominal opposition in the primary.
It would be 鈥渢ough鈥� for Hong to beat Tiffany, said retired attorney John Hawley, 68, of Madison.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to think I鈥檓 wrong, but north of Madison and Milwaukee I don鈥檛 think she鈥檒l come across that well,鈥� he said in reference to more rural parts of the state.
Erica and Mario Johnson, a married couple who are both Black and from Milwaukee, both voted for Crowley, because they see him as best positioned to beat Tiffany. Crowley and Barnes are each seeking to become the state鈥檚 first Black governor. Hong is seeking to become Wisconsin’s first female governor and first Asian American governor.
Crowley has the 鈥渕ost executive experience,鈥� said Mario Johnson, 63, who retired from a career in the federal government.
He worries that Hong won鈥檛 be able to defeat Tiffany, but if Hong wins the primary, 鈥淚鈥檒l bite the bullet and vote for her.鈥�
As of Tuesday, nearly 108,000 ballots had already been returned by mail ahead of the Aug. 11 election.
Democratic c
andidates play nice in only debate before election
The Democratic candidates tried to differentiate themselves Tuesday night in the only debate before the primary, but abstained from going after Hong, who has led in polls.
Hong, who has run as an insurgent candidate, tried to cast herself as the one who could bring together Republicans, Democrats, independents and democratic socialists.
鈥淭his is a movement moment,鈥� Hong said.
Hong also tried to distance herself from the national democratic socialist movement. Hong said she did not support the entire national DSA platform and backed off her earlier support for defunding the police.
鈥淭he governor cannot defund police and I鈥檓 not here to govern by slogan,” she said.
Crowley, who has the governor’s endorsement, and Barnes, who served as Evers’ lieutenant governor in his first term, also tried to portray themselves as outsiders.
鈥淚鈥檓 not here to protect the establishment,鈥� Crowley said.
And while Barnes said no other candidate had united Democrats like he did in his 2022 Senate race, 鈥淚 have zero interest in being the establishment candidate.鈥�
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Mayes-Osterman is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. She reported for this story from Milwaukee.
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