Progressives have mixed showing in Midwest as Hong fumbles primary
Midwestern progressives experienced mixed results in the 2026 Democratic primaries. In Wisconsin, socialist Francesca Hong lost unexpectedly to centrist David Crowley, a Milwaukee County executive, despite leading polls earlier. Crowley’s win was notable as he defied many predictions by emphasizing centrist policies like expanding the middle class and creating union jobs, contrasting with Hong’s platform of free school meals and higher taxes on the wealthy. hong’s defeat marks a setback for the socialist movement in Wisconsin, although other Midwestern progressives saw successes.
In Minnesota, progressive Lieutenant Governor Peggy flanagan defeated centrist Rep. Angie Craig in the Democratic Senate primary, despite fundraising disadvantages. Flanagan emphasized issues like opposing the AIPAC-backed “Laken Riley Act,” and criticized Craig’s more moderate record. Similarly, in Michigan, Abdul el Sayed, a progressive advocating for “Medicare for all,” narrowly defeated incumbent Rep. Haley Stevens, also criticizing her support from pro-israel groups.
A common thread in these races is that candidates with strong backing from prominent progressive figures and endorsements from figures like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren tended to perform better. Hong, who identified as a socialist and lacked endorsements from top progressives, lost despite her popularity among the far-left. Both Flanagan and el Sayed benefited from prominent endorsements and highlighted issues like opposition to AIPAC and U.S. policy in Gaza, reflecting a shift towards more explicitly progressive and anti-establishment positions. Hong’s primary loss indicates challenges for far-left candidates without broad establishment support, even as progressive causes continue gaining ground in other races.
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.
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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.
Also on Tuesday night, progressive Lt. Gov. Flanagan (D-MN) toppled centrist Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) in Minnesota’s Democratic Senate primary by nearly a 20-percentage-point margin. Flanagan overcame a $2.5 million cash-on-hand disadvantage by hitting Craig hard on her vote for the Laken Riley Act and her more middle-of-the-road record.
Flanagan’s win despite her fundraising disadvantage mirrored that of her Michigan counterpart, el Sayed, who defeated centrist Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) this month. El Sayed defeated Stevens by more than 15,000 votes, a 1-percentage-point margin, after hitting Stevens hard on her outside support from AIPAC-affiliated groups and emphasizing his push for “Medicare for all.” El Sayed’s race was much closer than anticipated, as the leftist had led Stevens by double digits in several polls.
There are several through-lines in the progressive races over the past few weeks nationwide, including that Hong lacked the strong, established support of and campaigning from big-name progressive politicians, something both Flanagan and el Sayed boasted in abundance.
Hong was the most progressive of the Midwestern leftists, identifying as a socialist, while both Flanagan and el Sayed shied away from that label. Hong failed to get endorsements from high-profile leftists such as Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who each endorsed both Flanagan and el Sayed. Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), however, did endorse her.
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Further, both Flanagan and el Sayed took on AIPAC, Israeli funding, and the conflict in Gaza as major issues in their races, each going up against candidates who were backed by AIPAC and strong supporters of Israel.
But the issue of AIPAC funding was not as central to Wisconsin’s race, especially with it being at the state level, where congressional military aid to Israel is not under its jurisdiction. Hong was critical of Israel, however, during the primary.
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