David Crowley defeats Francesca Hong in Wisconsin Governor Democratic primary

Wisconsin [US], August 12 (ANI): David Crowley, the top elected official in Milwaukee County, defeated state representative and democratic socialist Francesca Hong in Tuesday's (local time) Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, according to The Washington Post.
Crowley, 40, will face Republican nominee Tom Tiffany, a congressman from Wisconsin's rural north, in the November general election. Tiffany, 68, defeated political newcomer Andy Manske in the Republican primary.
Socialist Francesca Hong had led Crowley in several polls by wide margins ahead of the election. However, she faced scrutiny in the final stages of the campaign over her past calls to abolish the police and cancel Thanksgiving, positions that some Democrats feared could hurt her chances in the November election, as reported by the Washington Post.
According to the report, Crowley's victory gives the Democratic Party establishment a win over its progressive wing. He campaigned as a pragmatist and received the backing of a retiring Democratic Governor Tony Evers.
Crowley served in the Wisconsin state legislature for three years before being elected Milwaukee County executive in 2020. Milwaukee is the state's most populous county.
Tiffany has represented Wisconsin in the US House since winning a special election in 2020. Before entering Congress, he spent a decade in the state legislature.
Crowley and Tiffany will now face each other in the November 2026 general election for Wisconsin governor.
Throughout the whole day, US state primary elections delivered major victories and crushing defeats, with Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth handing Trump-backed Mike Lindell a primary loss in the Republican governor's race, while in South Carolina, appointed Senator Darline Graham and Representative Ralph Norman beat out candidates to advance to a runoff for the state's vacant US Senate seat.
In a notable setback for US President Donald Trump's primary endorsement record, MyPillow founder Mike Lindell was defeated in Minnesota's Republican gubernatorial primary by state House Speaker Lisa Demuth, according to CNN.
The result came despite Trump issuing an explicit endorsement hours before polls closed, writing on Truth Social that Lindell "deserves a BIG WIN IN MINNESOTA today."
Demuth prevailed in a raucous, three-way contest against Lindell and Kendall Qualls, an Army veteran and former healthcare executive. According to CNN, while Qualls won the state GOP's endorsement at its convention and Lindell held Trump's endorsement, Demuth prevailed by pressing her legislative accomplishments and experience.
Celebrating her victory, Demuth, in a post on X, said, "It's an absolute honor to be the Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota. Today was a major milestone in this campaign, but we're not done yet. Tonight, Minnesotans made it clear they are ready for real change - at the top. It's time to end the fraud, restore common sense to our state government and return Minnesota to a place that works for families, seniors, businesses and our next generation. Let's go win in November!"
She will advance to face Democratic candidate and current US Sen. Amy Klobuchar in November.
On the Democratic side in Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan secured the nomination for the US Senate seat being vacated by outgoing Senator Tina Smith, defeating moderate candidate Rep. Angie Craig.
Flanagan, a progressive who secured the state party's endorsement in May with backing from Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, had criticised her opponent in November, Republican Michele Tafoya, saying that she is a "loyal soldier" to President Donald Trump and does not understand the struggles people are experiencing in their lives, according to CNN.
Following the race, Angie Craig extended her support to Peggy Flanagan, stating in a post on X, "Peggy Flanagan's commitment to Minnesota and dedication to improving the lives of everyone around her is admirable -- I offer her my wholehearted support."
In South Carolina, Senator Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman advanced to an August 25 runoff in the special Republican primary to complete the term of the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
Graham thanked President Donald Trump for his "steadfast support and his complete and total endorsement," and retold the story of growing up with her brother in the back of the bar of a liquor store to highlight her work ethic. (ANI)