{"id":2633999,"date":"2026-07-23T07:57:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T11:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-democrats-moves-to-stop-dsa-governor-hopeful\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T07:59:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T11:59:14","slug":"wisconsin-democrats-moves-to-stop-dsa-governor-hopeful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-democrats-moves-to-stop-dsa-governor-hopeful\/","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin Democrats moves to stop DSA governor hopeful"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwisconsin-democrats-moves-to-stop-dsa-governor-hopeful%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2633999&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary has transformed from an ordinary race into a notable ideological battle, testing whether socialist candidates can succeed statewide in a crucial swing state. Recently, milwaukee County Executive David crowley withdrew and endorsed lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, promoting establishment support against socialist candidate Francesca Hong. Though, Rodriguez&#8217;s campaign faltered due to financial mishandling, leading her to suspend her bid, and prompting party leaders to persuade Crowley to re-enter the race. Governor Tony Evers also endorsed Crowley, aiming to back a more customary candidate and counter Hong&#8217;s rising momentum. A recent poll showed Hong leading among primary voters, especially among liberals, indicating her strong grassroots support despite party establishment concerns. The race&#8217;s outcome holds broader implications for the Democratic Party nationally, as wisconsin remains a critical battleground for control of state government and reflects ongoing tensions within the party between progressive and establishment factions. The primary will serve as a key test of whether socialist-aligned candidates can succeed in competitive statewide races.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What began as an ordinary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-primary\/\">Democratic gubernatorial primary <\/a>in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wisconsin\/\">Wisconsin<\/a> has quickly become one of the party\u2019s biggest ideological battles, offering an early test of whether<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-socialism\/\"> socialism<\/a> can win statewide in one of the nation\u2019s most important swing states.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just nine days ago, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley suspended his gubernatorial campaign and endorsed the then-Democratic front-runner, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez (D-WI), appearing to clear the way for the establishment-backed candidate to consolidate support against <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4642553\/francesca-hong-wisconsin-governor-primary-socialism\/\">state Rep. Francesca Hong, a socialist <\/a>whose campaign had steadily gained momentum.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4659456\/wisconsin-governor-primary-democratic-party-proxy-war\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Wisconsin Democratic establishment moves to stop DSA governor hopeful<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4658574\/winsome-earle-sears-return-tour-abortion-gay-marriage-amendments\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Winsome Earle-Sears returns to Virginia politics with tour against abortion and gay marriage amendment<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4658419\/wisconsin-democrats-push-absentee-ballot-recast\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Wisconsin Democrats push for absentee ballots to be recast after candidate musical chairs<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, Rodriguez\u2019s campaign imploded. Rodriguez <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4653378\/sara-rodriguez-abandon-bid-wisconsin-governor\/\">abruptly suspended her bid Friday<\/a> after fallout over her campaign\u2019s mishandling of financial records, throwing the Democratic primary into turmoil. Within days, party leaders persuaded Crowley to re-enter the race, and<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tony-evers\/\"> Gov. Tony Evers <\/a>(D-WI) broke his neutrality to endorse him, a remarkable intervention widely viewed as an effort to stop Hong from capturing the nomination.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The extraordinary series of events has transformed Wisconsin\u2019s Aug. 11 primary into more than a race for governor. It has become a proxy war between the Democratic establishment and the burgeoning socialist surge, with implications that stretch well beyond Wisconsin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After President Donald Trump carried the battleground state in 2024, Democrats see Wisconsin as one of their best opportunities to reclaim unified control of state government for the first time since 2010 by holding the governor\u2019s office, winning both legislative chambers, and maintaining their majority on the state Supreme Court. The race has also become one of the first major tests of whether a socialist can win a statewide nomination in a presidential battleground rather than a deep-blue district or city.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe party thinks this is a very winnable race in general,\u201d Barry Burden, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cThe environment is so good for them nationally that this is a real opportunity to pick up not just the governor\u2019s office, but also winning the state legislature.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo having strong performance at the top of the ticket could let them have a trifecta for the first time since 2010, and they don\u2019t want to blow it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Burden said Evers\u2019 endorsement was an effort to \u201creset the race around a more traditional candidate,\u201d reflecting concerns among Democratic leaders that Hong\u2019s socialist label could become a liability in the general election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt does reflect some worry that her positions, in particular, might be unpalatable or might be material that Republicans could use against Democrats, fairly or unfairly, in the general election,\u201d Burden said. \u201cInsiders would like to run a more conventional ticket.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/poll\/\">new Marquette Law School Poll <\/a>released Wednesday underscored why Democratic leaders moved so aggressively. Conducted before Crowley re-entered the race, the survey found Hong leading the Democratic primary with 26%, followed by former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes at 15%, while 46% of Democratic primary voters remained undecided. Although the poll does not capture any effect from Crowley\u2019s return or Evers\u2019s endorsement, it illustrates how Hong had become the candidate to beat while leaving a substantial share of the electorate still up for grabs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The survey also highlighted a challenge for Democratic leaders trying to stop Hong\u2019s rise. More than half of Democratic voters said they viewed democratic socialists favorably, while only about one in 10 viewed them unfavorably. Among very liberal Democrats, favorability climbed to 82%, suggesting Hong\u2019s ideological label may resonate far more with the Democratic primary electorate than with the party establishment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hong brushed aside Evers\u2019 endorsement, arguing the race remains in voters\u2019 hands.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI welcome David Crowley back into the race, and I look forward to the perspective he\u2019ll bring as we each make our case to Wisconsinites over the next three weeks,\u201d Hong said in a statement provided to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cCompetition is good for democracy, and voters deserve a substantive debate about the future of our state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGov. Evers has made his preference clear, and I respect his decision. But the real power belongs to Wisconsin voters, and they have made their preference clear, too,\u201d she continued. \u201cWe are the leading campaign because people are ready for bold, working-class leadership that meets the urgency of this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anthony Chergosky, an associate professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, said Evers\u2019 endorsement immediately strengthened Crowley\u2019s candidacy but is unlikely to reshape the race on its own.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Evers endorsement gave Crowley instant credibility and a boost to his chances that he never had the first time he was in the race,\u201d Chergosky told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cBut I don\u2019t think, on its own, the Evers endorsement is going to be enough. It\u2019s going to take more endorsements, more money, a sustained statewide advertising campaign, and undecided voters rallying behind him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crowley is also working against the clock. Absentee voting has already begun, prompting the Democratic Party of Wisconsin <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4658419\/wisconsin-democrats-push-absentee-ballot-recast\/\">to ask the Wisconsin Elections Commission <\/a>to allow voters to spoil ballots they cast before Rodriguez suspended her campaign and Crowley re-entered the race. The party argues voters should have an opportunity to recast ballots now that the field has dramatically changed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Burden said Evers\u2019 endorsement could nonetheless help by signaling to undecided Democrats which candidate establishment leaders believe offers the party its best chance in November.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSomeone who\u2019s so central to the party has issued a message,\u201d Burden said. \u201cSomeone who\u2019s not a candidate in the race is saying this is the person we have to rally around, and I think that will carry some weight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Chergosky, the broader significance of the race lies in what it could mean for the Democratic Party nationally.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4658419\/wisconsin-democrats-push-absentee-ballot-recast\/\"><strong>WISCONSIN DEMOCRATS PUSH FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO BE RECAST AFTER CANDIDATE MUSICAL CHAIRS <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt would be a test of the DSA\u2019s viability unlike any that we\u2019ve seen before,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s one thing for these DSA-affiliated candidates to win primary elections in deep-blue congressional districts. It\u2019s a completely different matter for a DSA-aligned candidate to potentially become the Democratic Party nominee in a purple state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With Democrats eyeing their best opportunity in years to reclaim unified control of Wisconsin government, the Aug. 11 primary could offer the clearest indication yet of whether the party\u2019s progressive wing can translate its momentum into statewide success in a presidential battleground.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wisconsin primary turns into a major ideological showdown<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2634001,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP25088689952087-e1784755844578.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3685,74849,4173,5894,4124],"class_list":["post-2633999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-democrats","tag-dsa","tag-governor","tag-politics","tag-wisconsin"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP25088689952087-e1784755844578.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2633999"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633999\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2634004,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633999\/revisions\/2634004"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2634001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2633999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2633999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2633999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}