Overview
- Marquette Law School’s poll released July 22 found Francesca Hong topping the Democratic field with about mid-20s support while 45–48% of likely Democratic primary voters remained undecided.
- Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley re-entered the race on July 18 and received Gov. Tony Evers’ endorsement, a late establishment intervention meant to consolidate moderate support against Hong.
- Early absentee voting is already under way and Wisconsin Democrats have asked the Wisconsin Elections Commission to let voters who already mailed ballots spoil and recast them because the candidate field shifted after some ballots went out.
- Contested controversies have shaken the late campaign: Crowley faces disputed allegations linking him to an old burner X/Twitter account that he denies sole responsibility for, and Hong has launched a major ad buy that targets likely Republican nominee Tom Tiffany.
- The primary’s outcome matters for November because U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany is the clear GOP frontrunner and some general-election polls show Tiffany competitive or slightly ahead of Hong, which is driving establishment concern about electability.