Wisconsin governor race: Crowley wins Democratic primary
MILWAUKEE - David Crowley won Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, according to The Associated Press, narrowly defeating Francesca Hong. Joel Brennan and Kelda Roys trailed far behind.
Wisconsin governor race Democratic primary results
By the numbers:
Check the most recent vote totals below. Numbers started coming in after polls closed at 8 p.m.
LIVE RESULTS: Wisconsin primary election, August 2026
The 2026 Wisconsin August primary election results will start coming in after polls close. Check the races and the most recent vote totals below.
What did David Crowley say?
What they're saying:
Crowley's campaign event ended with the race was too close to call, so he did not deliver remarks or provide a statement when The Associated Press called the victory at around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.
He accepted the nomination and delivered a speech at around 9 a.m.
"Today, I stand before the people of Wisconsin, after we rose from the ashes, after we rebuilt, after we rebuilt this campaign with purpose, and after people of Wisconsin decided that the bright future that working Wisconsin families deserve is worth fighting for," he said. "Today I stand before you, filled with gratitude, with humility and hope as I formally accept the Democratic nomination to be the next governor of the great state of Wisconsin."
Who is David Crowley?
What we know:
David Crowley was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 2016, his first role as a public elected official. The Milwaukee native was then elected Milwaukee County Executive in 2020, the youngest and first Black person in the role, and is now in his second term. He has Gov. Tony Evers' endorsement.
DIG DEEPER: David Crowley's campaign website
On cost of living…
Crowley supports an across-the-board property tax decrease and said, if he were governor, he would have signed the failed tax relief deal Gov. Tony Evers and Republicans negotiated. He has also called for people who make $1 million or more to be taxed more.
On immigration enforcement…
Crowley opposes the use of local law enforcement for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, saying it makes communities less safe. He has said that ICE administrative warrants don’t provide constitutional authority for state or local detention.
On health care…
Crowley wants to expand mobile health care outreach and addiction treatment access. His campaign also notes safe housing and modern transit as components that can modernize public health.
On data centers…
Crowley said a short-term moratorium does not address long-term concerns, and holding data centers accountable for energy use and grid upgrades are among his priorities. He also wants to ensure any data center construction projects use union labor.
On abortion…
In 2017, Crowley co-sponsored a Wisconsin Assembly resolution that declared abortion is health care.
Who were the other Democratic candidates?
Dig deeper:
Joel Brennan, a Milwaukee native, previously ran Discovery World and led the Greater Milwaukee Committee. In 2018, Gov. Tony Evers tabbed Brennan to serve as Department of Administration secretary.
Francesca Hong is the daughter of Korean American immigrants and a former restaurant owner. The Democratic Socialist currently represents the Madison area in the Wisconsin Assembly. She became the first Asian American member of the Wisconsin Legislature when elected in 2020.
Kelda Roys was born in Marshfield and currently represents the Wisconsin Senate's 26th District, serving the Madison area. She was elected to one term in the Wisconsin Assembly in 2008 and was first elected to the Wisconsin Senate in 2020.
Three other candidates submitted the requisite signatures and are on the ballot – but suspended their campaigns ahead of the primary: Mandela Barnes, Sara Rodriguez and Missy Hughes.
Who is the Republican nominee?
The other side:
Tom Tiffany won Wisconsin’s Republican primary for governor on Tuesday night, defeating Andy Manske. The Associated Press called the race, projecting Tiffany to win the nomination, at 8:20 p.m.
Wisconsin governor race: Tiffany wins Republican primary
Tom Tiffany won Wisconsin’s Republican primary for governor on Tuesday night, defeating Andy Manske.
Tiffany currently represents Wisconsin's 7th District, a seat he was elected to in a May 2020 special election. A lifelong Wisconsin resident, he previously served in the Wisconsin Assembly and Wisconsin Senate, was a Town of Little Rice supervisor and spent nearly three decades as a dam tender on the Willow Flowage.
In May, he received the Republican Party of Wisconsin's endorsement. He also has the backing of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
When is the general election?
What's next:
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Continued coverage
Dig deeper:
FOX6 News had live coverage throughout election night. Here are some additional highlights, from newest to oldest, related to the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor.
Wisconsin primary: Francesca Hong speaks to supporters
Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor Francesca Hong spoke to supporters late on Tuesday to talk about unity within the party, no matter who wins the Democratic ballot.
![Wisconsin governor race: Francesca Hong speaks to supporters [FULL]](https://static-media.fox.com/fmcv3/prod/fts/2498h8blgcbympnk/mwm4wljv9dcv73ci.jpg)
Wisconsin governor race: Francesca Hong speaks to supporters [FULL]
Francesca Hong took the stage at her primary night party to address her supporters as the Democratic primary race for governor between her and David Crowley remained too close to call Tuesday night. Hong said, "We are ready to keep fighting."
Dramatic Wisconsin governor race: Slim margin in Crowley, Hong primary
FOX6's Jason Calvi breaks down the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, noting that three candidates who dropped out of the race currently make up 8% of the vote, which is larger than the margin separating David Crowley and Francesca Hong.
WI governor race: Democratic Party is split right down middle
UWM Professor Emeritus Mordecai Lee says the close race between David Crowley and Francesca Hong in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor shows that the Democratic Party in Wisconsin is split right down the middle. This race is being viewed as the latest clash between the Democratic Party's establishment and progressive wings.
Wisconsin governor race: 'Every vote' making a difference in primary
The Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin is still too close to call, with David Crowley narrowly leading Francesca Hong as votes continue to be tallied. The winner will take on Republican Tom Tiffany in November. UWM Professor Emeritus Mordecai Lee explains where the race stands and Wisconsin's recount procedure.
Wisconsin governor primary: Hong, Crowley race too close to call
Democratic socialist Francesca Hong and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley are neck and neck in the Democratic primary for governor, with the winner facing Republican Tom Tiffany. Hong was counting on support from her home city of Madison to overcome Crowley, who has served as the top elected official in Milwaukee County for six years. Crowley has the endorsement of two-term Gov. Tony Evers and has been running as the more moderate choice.
Wisconsin governor race: 'I have never seen a race like this'
The Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor is close as the party's establishment and progressive wings clash. Democratic socialist Francesca Hong and establishment candidate David Crowley are in a close primary race. UWM Professor Mordecai Lee explains what he's looking at as votes are counted.
Wisconsin primary election: Crowley, Hong in close race
The Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin is a high-profile clash between the establishment and progressives. The race between Democratic socialist Francesca Hong and establishment candidate David Crowley is close an hour after polls closed on Tuesday. The winner will take on Tom Tiffany in November.
Wisconsin primary: Democratic governor race is close
The Democratic primary for governor is a high-profile clash between the party’s establishment and progressive wings, as democratic socialist Francesca Hong tries to rise above establishment candidate David Crowley. It's shaping to be a closer race than polls showed two weeks ago.
Wisconsin primary 2026: Hong's strong signal to liberal voters
Democratic candidate for governor Francesca Hong is sending a strong signal to the party's most liberal voters, says Craig Gilbert, a longtime political reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He joined Wisconsin Live Desk to explain.
Wisconsin primary: What's at stake in Democratic governor race
Democratic Socialist State Rep. Francesca Hong is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. Here's what's at stake in the race.
Editor's note: This story was updated to add new information.
The Source: Information in this story is from the Brennan, Crowley, Hong, Manske, Roys and Tiffany campaigns and prior coverage of the race for governor, including polling, debates and forums. The Associated Press contributed.