{"id":2643561,"date":"2026-08-12T10:17:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T14:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/progressives-have-mixed-showing-in-midwest-as-hong-fumbles-primary\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T10:19:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T14:19:20","slug":"progressives-have-mixed-showing-in-midwest-as-hong-fumbles-primary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/progressives-have-mixed-showing-in-midwest-as-hong-fumbles-primary\/","title":{"rendered":"Progressives have mixed showing in Midwest as Hong fumbles primary"},"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\">20<\/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%2Fprogressives-have-mixed-showing-in-midwest-as-hong-fumbles-primary%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=2643561&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>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\u2019s win was notable as he defied many predictions by emphasizing centrist policies like expanding the middle class and creating union jobs, contrasting with Hong\u2019s platform of free school meals and higher taxes on the wealthy. hong\u2019s defeat marks a setback for the socialist movement in Wisconsin, although other Midwestern progressives saw successes.<\/p>\n<p>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 \u201cLaken Riley Act,\u201d and criticized Craig\u2019s more moderate record. Similarly, in Michigan, Abdul el Sayed, a progressive advocating for \u201cMedicare for all,\u201d narrowly defeated incumbent Rep. Haley Stevens, also criticizing her support from pro-israel groups.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s primary loss indicates challenges for far-left candidates without broad establishment support, even as progressive causes continue gaining ground in other 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\">Midwestern <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/progressives\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1115\">progressives<\/a> pulled mixed results in the 2026 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-primary\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2328\">Democratic primary<\/a> elections on Tuesday evening, as socialist <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/francesca-hong\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"23344\">Francesca Hong\u2019s<\/a> unexpected loss to centrist David Crowley in Wisconsin\u2019s governor\u2019s race dealt a blow to the momentum built by leftists such as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abdul-el-sayed\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"23138\">Abdul el Sayed<\/a> and Peggy Flanagan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crowley, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/milwaukee\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2489\">Milwaukee<\/a> County executive, defied nearly all primary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.270towin.com\/2026-governor-polls\/wisconsin\">polls<\/a> in Wisconsin when he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4682734\/francesca-hong-loses-david-crowley-democratic-primary-for-wisconsin-governor-race\/\">bested Hong<\/a>, a\u00a0state 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-fight-for-educational-freedom-is-just-warming-up\/\" title=\"The Fight For Educational Freedom Is Just Warming Up\">double-digit percentage points<\/a> in polls but ultimately fell to Crowley by a little over 3,000 votes as of Wednesday morning.<\/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\/4684090\/progressives-primary-midwest-hong-crowley-flanagan\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Progressives have mixed showing in Midwest as Hong fumbles primary<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4681834\/max-miller-reelection-price-tag-ohio-expensive-plummeted-in-polls\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Max Miller\u2019s reelection campaign could come with a hefty price tag<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4680277\/ai-deepfake-election-advertising-laws-what-to-know\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>AI deepfake election advertising laws vary state by state: What to know<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0px; padding: 97.66% 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; will-change: transform;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/5dd72576-226b-4cb6-b61a-f91d47fb7f8f?src=embed&#038;embed_type=responsive_iframe\" title=\"wisconsin primary\" allowfullscreen allow=\"fullscreen\" style=\"position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; top: 0px; left: 0px; border-width: medium; border-style: none; border-color: currentcolor; border-image: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hong\u2019s 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.<\/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\">Also on Tuesday night, progressive Lt. Gov. Flanagan (D-MN) toppled centrist Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"443\">Minnesota\u2019s<\/a> 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 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4666203\/peggy-flanagan-angie-craig-laken-riley-act-minnesota-senate-primary\/\">vote for the Laken Riley Act<\/a> and her more middle-of-the-road record.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4681622\/minnesota-democratic-senate-primary-results-2026\/\">Flanagan\u2019s win<\/a> despite her fundraising disadvantage mirrored that of her <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"655\">Michigan<\/a> 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 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/aipac\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2620\">AIPAC<\/a>-affiliated groups and emphasizing his push for \u201cMedicare for all.\u201d El Sayed\u2019s race was much closer than anticipated, as the leftist had led Stevens by double digits in several polls.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/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\">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. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"41\">Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elizabeth-warren\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"250\">Elizabeth Warren<\/a> (D-MA), who each endorsed both Flanagan and el Sayed. Reps. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ro-khanna\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"5039\">Ro Khanna<\/a> (D-CA) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ilhan-omar\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1223\">Ilhan Omar<\/a> (D-MN), however, did endorse her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4681001\/angie-craig-pans-peggy-flanagan-deception-aipac-minnesota-senate-race\/\"><strong>ANGIE CRAIG PANS PEGGY FLANAGAN FOR \u2018DECEPTION\u2019 AFTER AIPAC POSITION PAPER REVEALED<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/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\">But the issue of AIPAC funding was not as central to Wisconsin\u2019s race, especially with it being at the state level, where congressional military aid to Israel is not under its jurisdiction. Hong was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/diaspora\/antisemitism\/article-905238\">critical<\/a> of Israel, however, during the primary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Midwest progressives face mixed results in 2026 primaries<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2643562,"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\/08\/image-collage-9iy1a8b7s-1786533992433-e1786543115620.jpg?1786519789&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[7926,5658,5894,4909,11763],"class_list":["post-2643561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-hong","tag-midwest","tag-politics","tag-primary","tag-progressives"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-9iy1a8b7s-1786533992433-e1786543115620.jpg?1786519789&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643561","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\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2643561"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643561\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2643565,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643561\/revisions\/2643565"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2643562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2643561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2643561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2643561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}