Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries pit progressive wing against Democratic establishment

Wisconsin governor: socialist vs. establishment

Wisconsin's Democratic primary for governor has drawn national attention as state representative Francesca Hong, a self-described democratic socialist and former restaurant owner, leads polls in a field that thinned from seven candidates. Hong's platform includes a moratorium on data center construction, higher taxes on millionaires, and public grocery stores. She has faced scrutiny for past social media posts calling to abolish the police and cancel Thanksgiving. Her main challenger is Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, backed by Gov. Tony Evers and much of the party establishment. Evers, who decided last year not to seek a third term, campaigned with Crowley in the final days. Other Democratic candidates include Joel Brennan, a former top aide to Evers, and state senator Kelda Roys. The field narrowed after several candidates dropped out, including former lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes, the Democrats' 2022 Senate nominee. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez suspended her run after acknowledging inaccuracies in her campaign finance filings.

National progressive movement watches

Progressives see Hong's campaign as a test of whether their brand can succeed in a battleground state where general election margins are often measured in fractions of a percentage point. A win would follow Abdul El-Sayed's narrow victory over Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary the previous week, which energized progressives but stoked fears among party leaders that a leftward shift in swing states will make November harder. Notably, national progressive figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have not endorsed Hong. Some organizers argue a Hong win serves as a test run for potential 2028 presidential contenders like Ocasio-Cortez.

Minnesota Senate: Flanagan vs. Craig

In Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig are vying for the Democratic nomination to succeed retiring Sen. Tina Smith, who endorsed Flanagan. The race became a bitter fight between progressive and centrist wings, with eight sitting senators endorsing each candidate. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsed Flanagan in May, galvanized by her progressive platform following Operation Metro Surge, the country's largest immigration enforcement operation, during which two witnesses, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by federal agents. Craig, running as a centrist, voted for the Republican-led Laken Riley Act, which increased detention requirements for undocumented immigrants, and later expressed regret. Craig has argued Flanagan would be vulnerable as the second-ranking elected official during a $250 million fraud scandal involving theft of pandemic-era welfare funds, which effectively ended Gov. Tim Walz's political career. Walz stayed neutral, but his wife, Gwen Walz, endorsed Craig.

Minnesota governor and Republican races

Sen. Amy Klobuchar faces no serious challengers in the Democratic primary for Minnesota governor, after Walz announced in January he would not seek a third term amid the welfare-fraud investigation. Seven Minnesota Republicans are vying to face Klobuchar, including Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, and businessman Kendall Qualls. President Donald Trump has endorsed Lindell. The likely Republican Senate nominee is Michele Tafoya, a former network sports broadcaster who breaks with her party by supporting limited abortion access. The state has not elected a Republican senator since 2002.

Republican races in Wisconsin

On the Republican side for Wisconsin governor, Rep. Tom Tiffany, a deeply conservative congressman from northern Wisconsin, is running with Trump's endorsement against political novice Andy Manske. Tiffany's departure from the 7th Congressional District has opened a crowded Republican primary, with Michael Alfonso, the Trump-endorsed son-in-law of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, leading in polls and fundraising. Financier Kevin Hermening has also shown momentum.