Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has clinched a surprising victory in Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial primary, defeating State Representative Francesca Hong by a margin of just over 3,200 votes. The closely watched contest, which concluded early Wednesday morning, saw Crowley overcome a substantial polling deficit thanks to a late surge of establishment support, setting the stage for a challenging general election against Republican U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany, who has President Trump’s endorsement.
"Are you serious?! They have to… God… what were… OK…umm" — Steve Kornacki, NBC News Chief Data Analyst
The primary results revealed Crowley with 313,321 votes, accounting for 39.8 percent, while Hong trailed closely behind with 310,109 votes, or 39.4 percent. Other candidates, including State Senator Kelda Roys, former state administration secretary Joel Brennan, and Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, garnered smaller percentages. The Associated Press officially called the race for Crowley after Hong publicly conceded, ending speculation of a potential recount.
Crowley's path to victory was highly unconventional. He initially withdrew from the gubernatorial race in early July when his poll numbers lagged significantly behind Hong’s, at which point he endorsed Rodriguez. However, Rodriguez’s campaign subsequently faltered due to a campaign finance scandal, creating an unexpected opening for Crowley to re-enter the race. Outgoing Governor Tony Evers then stepped in, lending his political machine and fundraising network to Crowley's comeback effort in the crucial final weeks of the campaign. This late institutional backing proved instrumental, helping Crowley consolidate moderate Democratic support even as Hong maintained a commanding lead in public polling for months, sometimes by margins as large as 20 to 30 points.
Francesca Hong, who represents Madison in the state legislature, holds the distinction of being the first Asian American elected to Wisconsin’s Legislature. Her campaign was built on a progressive platform, advocating for workers' rights, affordable housing, and expanded government social programs, which resonated strongly with the party's left flank and fueled her early polling dominance. However, on Election Day, moderate Democratic voters appeared to prioritize general-election viability over strict ideological alignment, shifting their support to Crowley. Crowley’s campaign, in contrast, focused on issues such as affordability, job creation, and education funding, often referencing his personal experience with homelessness during his childhood. A victory in November would make him Wisconsin’s first Black governor.
The general election is now set, with Crowley facing Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany. Tiffany secured his party's nomination without significant opposition and has the strong backing of President Donald Trump. The November contest will determine who occupies the governor’s mansion, which is open for the first time since Governor Evers decided not to seek reelection.
Beyond the political drama of the primary outcome, the vote counting process itself became a spectacle for television audiences. NBC News chief data analyst Steve Kornacki was visibly affected by the slow and unpredictable returns as he attempted to track the incredibly close race through the overnight hours. At one point, with 93 percent of votes tallied and Crowley holding a narrow lead, Kornacki doubled over at his desk, appearing stunned. "Really? Really?" he questioned on air. "That’s um… so we’re back to square one on this?"
His frustration intensified further when Milwaukee County election officials disclosed that five separate flash drives containing voting data had become corrupted, leading to additional delays in the count. "Are you serious?! They have to… God… what were… OK…umm," Kornacki exclaimed, looking visibly distressed. He also told his audience that NBC News was awaiting state election officials to "get their act together," a remark that quickly circulated across social media platforms. Before concluding his broadcast, Kornacki issued an apology to viewers who had stayed up expecting a final result, stating, "I hate doin’ this to you, because I know you’re here for results." Hong did not concede until early Wednesday morning, well after Kornacki had signed off for the night. Following the conclusion of the race, Kornacki expressed gratitude on X to his audience for their patience during the extended live coverage, noting the significant number of viewers who remained with him through the delays.
Wisconsin voters will now turn their attention to the general election in November, where they will choose between Crowley and Tiffany for the state's highest office.
