Hong's defeat in Wisconsin deals blow to rising Democratic socialists
Progressive Democrats keep their winning streak rolling in Minnesota.
Konoly
Democratic Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate David Crowley greets supporters at a campaign rally on Aug. 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Scott Olson | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Milwaukee County executive David Crowley stunned Democratic socialist Francesca Hong in Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial primary, surging to victory after polls had him down by double digits.
The Associated Press called the race early Wednesday morning, with Crowley ahead of Hong by less than a percentage point. The result is likely to take some wind out of a progressive surge that has threatened to upend Democratic politics on the economy.
Progressives, however, did score a win in Minnesota on Tuesday with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan defeating centrist Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn, in an open Senate primary. Flanagan — a supporter of universal healthcare known as Medicare for All and halting military support for Israel — was endorsed by leading progressives like Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
Flanagan was ahead of Craig by roughly 20 percentage points with 99% of ballots counted, according to the AP.
The results come as Democrats try to recraft their identity ahead of the November midterms after crushing losses to the GOP in 2024, when Republicans led by President Donald Trump secured the White House and all of Congress. Progressive candidates across the country have been capitalizing on economic anger to win Democratic primaries — promising to tax the wealthy at a higher rate, crack down on corporate power and secure universal healthcare.
Tuesday's results present a mixed bag. Voters in Minnesota went with a progressive, though not Democratic Socialists of America-endorsed, candidate, while Wisconsin rejected a DSA-endorsed candidate.
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, speaks during a volunteer appreciation event at Black Heart of Saint Paul on August 8, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Stephen Maturen | Getty Images
The outcome could signal that Democrats may temper some of their furthest-left economic policies if they take back power in November, while still pushing for progressive policies on healthcare and foreign policy that helped propel Flanagan to victory.
Meanwhile in South Carolina, polls closed at 7 p.m. ET as Republican voters narrow their choices to be the GOP nominee to succeed the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., will advance to a runoff election for the nomination, according to the Associated Press. Graham was appointed to the Senate to fill her brother's seat for the remainder of his term, which ends in January, and was endorsed by President Donald Trump for a full term.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., will also advance to the runoff, setting up a showdown with Graham for the nomination later this year.
In Minnesota and Wisconsin, polls closed at 9 p.m. ET. In both states, progressive Democrats are facing off with more moderate Democratic candidates — a crucial test as the party's left flank surges across the country.
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Also in Minnesota, Mike Lindell, the Trump-backed founder of MyPillow, lost out to state House speaker Lisa DeMuth for the Republican nomination for governor. DeMuth will face Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who won the Democratic nomination, in the general election.
In Connecticut, former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin beat longtime incumbent Rep. John Larson for the Democratic nomination in the state's 1st Congressional district, according to the AP.
