Democratic socialist Francesca Hong and moderate David Crowley were locked in a tighter-than-expected battle for Wisconsin's closely watched Democratic gubernatorial primary election on Tuesday, August 12, 2026. With more than 90% of votes counted, the race remained too close to call. According to US media projections, Milwaukee County Executive Crowley held a lead of just a few hundred votes over Hong, who aims to become Wisconsin's first democratic socialist governor.

The Democratic nominee will face Republican US Representative Tom Tiffany in the November general election.

The primary results in the Upper Midwest also raised questions about the influence of an endorsement by US President Donald Trump.

In Minnesota, the Democratic Senate primary showed momentum for left-leaning candidates, with progressive Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan defeating more moderate Representative Angie Craig. The candidates are competing for the seat left open by Senator Tina Smith, a Minnesota Democrat who announced her retirement in February 2025. Craig was the only Minnesota Democrat to vote for the Laken Riley Act, which expanded authority for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain immigrants charged with certain crimes, though she later expressed regret for her vote.

Francesca Hong has faced criticism over old tweets resurfacing, including a November 2020 post during a COVID-19 wave in which she wrote, "Please DON'T gather for the colonizer holiday," and another stating, "Cancel Thanksgiving."

Meanwhile, in Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district, Democrats selected Rebecca Cooke, a former small business owner and waitress who has run for the seat twice before, as their challenger to Trump-aligned Republican Derrick Van Orden, who has held the district since 2022. This race is considered one of the most competitive House contests in the country.

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