She was the clear favorite to win. That was the plan.
Then the votes came in, and the front-runner lost. Francesca Hong, the candidate backed by socialists, fell short of the nomination in Wisconsin's Democratic primary.
The margin was razor-thin, but the result was clear. David Crowley took the win with 39.8 percent of the vote. Hong trailed just behind with 39.4 percent, according to reports.
That is a gap of less than half a percent. With over 787,000 ballots cast, Hong fell behind her rival by a margin exceeding 3,200 votes. She could have asked for a recount, but she would have had to pay for it.
The polls told a different story before election day. One final survey showed Hong leading Crowley by 22 points. Another poll gave her a 33-point lead over state Sen. Kelda Roys. The data said she would win, but the voters said no.
Crowley was not always in the race. He had dropped out weeks before and even endorsed another opponent. He only returned to the contest after other candidates left the field.
Outgoing Gov. Tony Evers backed Crowley after he re-entered the race. The governor warned that Hong would struggle to win in November against a Republican. He said she spent too much time on social media and not enough on real issues.
Hong's past comments hurt her chances with voters. She had posted online about canceling Thanksgiving and defunding the police. She even said Valentine's Day brings out "the worst of humanity."
She tried to walk those comments back. She told CBS News she is not going to cancel Thanksgiving. But the damage was done, and the voters saw the radical history.
Now the general election looks different. Crowley will face Rep. Tom Tiffany in November. Tiffany won the Republican primary and has the backing of President Donald Trump.
Republicans hope they can take back the governor's mansion. The Cook Political Report called the race a toss-up. A democratic socialist is poised to become the Democratic candidate for governor, they claimed, demonstrating the left flank's influence within one of the country's quintessential swing states.
That prediction failed. The socialist surge hit a wall in a key swing state. Hong's team claimed they made meaningful change, but they did not make it to the top of the ticket.
Crowley's campaign manager said, "David is ready to get back to work, build a broad coalition, and win in November." Hong's manager said, "We have built something that will change politics forever."
Time will tell who was right. But for now, the establishment candidate holds the nomination. The voters chose a path that keeps the race competitive for the general election.
Gov. Evers wrote on X, "I am so proud of David—he's the future of our Party, and I can't wait for him to be our next governor. For now, we polka. Tomorrow, we're back at work to win."
Tonight's all about @DavidCCrowley. He's earned this win and the accolades.
I am so proud of David—he's the future of our Party, and I can't wait for him to be our next governor.
For now, we polka. Tomorrow, we're back at work to win.@TomTiffanyWI, we'll see you in November.
— Tony Evers (@Tony4WI) August 12, 2026
The race is set, but the stakes are high. A moderate Democrat now faces a Trump-backed Republican in a state that decided the last election.