Midwestern progressives pulled mixed results in the 2026 Democratic primary elections on Tuesday evening, as socialist Francesca Hong’s unexpected loss to centrist David Crowley in Wisconsin’s governor’s race dealt a blow to the momentum built by leftists such as Abdul el Sayed and Peggy Flanagan. Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, defied nearly all primary polls in Wisconsin when he bested Hong, a state representative, by relying on his centrist positions built around expanding the middle class and creating union jobs in the state. Hong, who campaigned on free school meals and raising taxes on the rich, had led by double-digit percentage points in polls but ultimately fell to Crowley by a little over 3,000 votes as of Wednesday morning. Hong’s loss is a major setback for the socialist agenda in Wisconsin, but it also swims against the tide of her fellow Midwestern progressives, who saw success in their August primaries. Advertisement