3 weeks ago
Moderate Crowley edges Hong in Wisconsin primary; Lindell loses Minnesota
Every few years, states hold special elections called primaries so that voters can pick which candidates will run for big jobs like governor.
On Tuesday, voters in two states — Wisconsin and Minnesota — chose their party's candidates for governor and for other big jobs.
In Wisconsin, two Democrats wanted to run for governor: Francesca Hong, who wants big changes, and David Crowley, who is more moderate.
The race was very close, and news organizations projected that Crowley won by just a few hundred votes.
Crowley will now face a Republican named Tom Tiffany in the big November election.
In Minnesota, Mike Lindell wanted the Republican job, and President Trump told people to vote for him — but Lindell lost anyway to Lisa Demuth.
Minnesota Democrats picked Peggy Flanagan to run for the United States Senate, a job that Tina Smith is leaving.
These results show that voters are still deciding how much change they want, and that even a president's support does not always decide an election.
Moderate David Crowley was projected to beat democratic socialist Francesca Hong in Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial primary by a few hundred votes, after initial reports called the race too close to call with more than 90% of votes counted.
Crowley will face Republican nominee U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany in the November general election.
Mike Lindell lost Minnesota's Republican gubernatorial nomination to Lisa Demuth despite President Donald Trump's endorsement.
Progressive Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan won Minnesota's Democratic Senate primary over moderate Representative Angie Craig for the seat of retiring Senator Tina Smith.
In Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district, Democrats chose Rebecca Cooke to challenge Republican Derrick Van Orden in one of the most competitive House races.
- Who
- Democratic gubernatorial candidates David Crowley and Francesca Hong in Wisconsin; Republicans Mike Lindell and Lisa Demuth and Democrats Amy Klobuchar, Peggy Flanagan and Angie Craig in Minnesota
- What
- Primary elections choosing party nominees for governor, the U.S. Senate and Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district
- Where
- Wisconsin and Minnesota in the U.S. Upper Midwest
- When
- Tuesday, August 11, 2026
- Why
- To select party nominees for the November general election, testing progressive appeal and the power of President Donald Trump's endorsement
Progressive view
Moderate view
Direction of the Democratic Party
Progressive view
Hong's platform — abolishing ICE, taxing billionaires and corporations — and Flanagan's Senate primary win show momentum for left-leaning candidates; a Reuters/Ipsos poll found more than seven in ten liberal Democrats call moving left on taxes, abortion and healthcare essential. Unlike Abdul El-Sayed, who won Michigan's Senate primary earlier this month, Hong ran without endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Moderate view
Moderate David Crowley won the Wisconsin nomination, and the party chose centrist Amy Klobuchar for Minnesota governor; Hong faced criticism over resurfaced tweets such as 'Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621.'
Power of Donald Trump's endorsement
Progressive view
Trump's endorsement is a major force in Republican primaries; he backed Lindell in May on Truth Social, calling him 'SPECTACULAR!!!' and saying he truly loves Minnesota.
Moderate view
Despite Trump's vocal support, Mike Lindell still lost the Minnesota gubernatorial nomination to Lisa Demuth, raising questions about the influence of the endorsement.
Immigration enforcement and ICE
Progressive view
Hong's platform includes abolishing ICE and Flanagan says ICE is out of control and must be dismantled, in the aftermath of 'Operation Metro Surge' in Minneapolis, which led to the deaths of two people.
Moderate view
Angie Craig was the only Minnesota Democrat to vote for the Laken Riley Act, which gave ICE broader authority to detain immigrants charged with some crimes (she later said she regretted her vote), reflecting support for tougher enforcement.
Key facts
- Wisconsin Democratic governor nominee
- David Crowley, projected to beat Francesca Hong by a few hundred votes after early reports called the race too close to call
- Wisconsin Republican governor nominee
- U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany
- Minnesota Republican governor nominee
- Lisa Demuth, who defeated Trump-backed Mike Lindell
- Minnesota Democratic governor nominee
- Senator Amy Klobuchar
- Minnesota Democratic Senate nominee
- Peggy Flanagan, who beat Angie Craig
- Vacated Senate seat
- Tina Smith announced her retirement in February 2025
- Wisconsin 3rd district matchup
- Rebecca Cooke (D) vs. Derrick Van Orden (R); Cooke out-fundraised Van Orden and joined the DCCC's Red to Blue program
- Liberal Democratic priorities
- Reuters/Ipsos poll: 76% of liberal Democrats call raising taxes on corporations and billionaires 'essential'
Quotes
Donald Trump
President of the United States
“"Mike will be SPECTACULAR!!! He truly loves Minnesota, as do I, and wants to bring it back from oblivion and embarrassment. He can do it!"”
theprint.in
Sources
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