Another Domino Falls in Wisconsin Gubernatorial

Like the Michigan Senate major race, the Wisconsin gubernatorial major on the Democrat aspect is giving institution sorts on the Left some sleepless nights. Loads has unfolded in latest weeks, and only one candidate has been the beneficiary of all of it, which we’ll get to in a minute.

The institution’s favourite to exchange the retiring Gov. Tony Evers was Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez.  But she not too long ago suspended her marketing campaign amid a finance reporting scandal where donations had been overcounted, forcing her to admit she had a lot less money on hand than initially thought. Rodriguez exited ten days after another purportedly “moderate” candidate, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, dropped out and endorsed her.

In panic mode, the institution shortly satisfied Crowley to leap back into the race. But it was soon revealed that Crowley had a Platneresque scandal of his own.

SEE ALSO: DSA Frontrunner’s Revisionist Act Falls Apart After WI Gov GOP Candidate Drops Receipts

Though it is unclear whether or not the scandal, which revolves around an X account from 15 years in the past where sexist and homophobic issues had been written about ladies and the LGBTQ group (Crowley has denied he wrote the offending posts), has damage him, obtainable polling taken after Crowley’s return exhibits it definitely hasn’t helped.

In fact, they show DSA-backed state Rep. Francesca Hong, who institution Dems are terrified will win the first, sustaining a comfy double-digit lead forward of the August 11 major (including in polls commissioned by some of the other Democrat candidates). 

Here is the most latest one:

MARQUETTE: Wisconsin Governor Democratic Primary (with leaners)

🟦 Francesca Hong: 46%
🟦 Mandela Barnes: 21%
🟦 David Crowley: 11%
🟦 J. Brennan: 4%
🟦 Kelda Roys: 4%
⬜️ Not sure: 14%@MULawPoll (A) | 7/22-27 | 407 LV https://t.co/z5jStjNnQn pic.twitter.com/c07xxjxwg5

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) July 29, 2026

In other phrases, Hong has been the main beneficiary of the Dems in Disarray drama enjoying out in Wisconsin proper now.

All of this, coupled with news studies swirling about a 2025 state Democrat Party investigation into allegations “that Barnes had taken advantage of his role in the party for inappropriate encounters with women,” apparently led former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes to also end his marketing campaign:

“Last night I had a very difficult conversation with staff,” Barnes said in a video on X. “We’re incredibly proud of all the things that we’ve accomplished and all the resources that we have raised to spread our message. But it’s become very clear who our nominee is going to be.”

That assertion is a clear nod to state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist who has expanded her polling lead forward of the Aug. 11 major.

[…]

Still, Barnes’ transfer might give Crowley a enhance among Democrats who are wanting for an different to Hong, who some in the get together worry can be a weak normal election candidate in the swing state due to her progressive views.

(For what’s price, the Wisconsin Democrat Party “determined [the allegations] were too vague to be verified and did not take further action.”)

The Trump-backed presumptive GOP nominee, Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07), has been zeroing in on Hong’s radical document and bizarro DSA positions for weeks, maybe with the understanding in thoughts that she is going to probably be his normal election opponent. 

Last night time, socialist @FrancescaHongWI claimed she doesn’t agree with your entire DSA platform. So we checked her document:

-Abolish the Senate? Yes.
-Abolish ICE, prisons, and the police? Yes.
-Mass amnesty? Yes.
-Transition Wisconsin away from protection manufacturing? Yes. pic.twitter.com/ytzRSDA2kl

— Tom Tiffany (@TomTiffanyWI) July 29, 2026

But though Hong’s observe document goes to be simple to decide aside in the overall (assuming she wins the nomination), the Tiffany marketing campaign should not assume this goes to be a cakewalk. 

Milwaukee GOP Vice Chair Brett Galaszewski, who is also Turning Point Action’s National Enterprise Director, explained why on X:

We as conservatives in Wisconsin need to watch out with this “Hong is done for” mentality.

Yes, I LOVE our probabilities with her vs. @TomTiffanyWI.

But we’re also watching Hong evolve in real time.

She’s sprucing her image, dressing more like a governor, and strolling back a lot of the DSA-aligned issues she has said in the past.

She’s also surrounded herself with new faces/consultants — including what seems to be a new comms director who was with her in the spin room video circulating this week.

I feel the WisDems higher brass is aware of she has a real path and is pushing severe assets/consultants in.

We have to keep disciplined.

The second you assume a race is over is the second you stop doing the work it takes to win. Complacency loses elections!

Never let up. Even if you’re comfortably forward, always marketing campaign like you’re 20 factors behind. Always.

Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will decide the destiny of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must keep control of both chambers of Congress.

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