WASHINGTON — Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley beat Democratic socialist Francesca Hong in a come-from-behind victory during the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary Tuesday night.
Crowley was ahead of the 37-year-old state representative and member of the Democratic Socialists of America 39.8% to 39.4% when the race was called by the Associated Press at 3:34 a.m.
Surveys ahead of the Badger State Democratic contest had consistently showed Hong besting Crowley by double digit percentage points. Crowley had also dropped out of the race weeks before and even endorsed another opponent, before re-entering the contest and receiving the backing of outgoing Gov. Tony Evers.
Hong, who campaigned on hiking taxes for the rich, was snapped wearing black Air Jordan sneakers with a blue jacket and matching heart-printed socks while casting her ballot on Tuesday.
The sneakers can retail online for $300.
The card-carrying DSA member had in recent weeks found herself apologizing in media interviews for past statements in favor of abolishing police departments and canceling Thanksgiving Day. She even railed against Valentine’s Day.
“Police exist to uphold white supremacy,” she had posted on Twitter, now X, in October 2021. “Defund then abolish. Reform can’t be an option.”
The year before, Hong had also posted, “Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621,” in a now-deleted tweet.
She’s since walked back both of those statements. “I’ve cooked many great Thanksgiving dinners,” she told CBS News ahead of the primary election, “and I’m not going to cancel Thanksgiving.”
But critics in both Republican and Democratic circles have expressed concerns that her past radical comments — and policies such as a massive tax hike on high earners in the state — would spell trouble for her in the November general election.
“She is a font of zany liberal, faculty lounge exotica,” wrote ex-Obama adviser David Axelrod in an X post.
“This tweet is a perfect example of why the consultant class keeps losing elections,” Hong clapped back. “They’re totally clueless, and they’re hellbent on keeping working-class people out of politics. I’ve spent more time in kitchens than faculty lounges.
“Perhaps you’d like to come to Wisconsin and work a Friday night dinner rush with me?” she taunted.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Crowley told reporters Monday: “There are a lot of people who are scared.”
“She is a self-proclaimed socialist. There are a lot of people worried about not just this party, but this country moving in that direction,” added Crowley.
Crowley had been backed by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, who took a shot at Hong in the days before the primary for spending time “talking on Twitter and all these other extraneous issues.”
In an interview with Politico Friday, Evers wouldn’t commit to backing Hong if she won the primary. “I want to have a chance to take a breath, and once that’s in a position, we’ll see,” he said, adding: “But I anticipate that David will win.”
A former chef and part-time bartender, Hong had steadily picked up support since the start of this year, when former Wisconsin lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes had been leading in the polls.
But Barnes dropped out of the race late last month following reports that the state Democratic Party leaders were investigating allegations of concerning behavior toward women. The candidate denied wrongdoing.
