Democratic socialists face a prove-it moment in battleground Wisconsin

Key Points:

• Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old democratic socialist and state assemblywoman from Madison, is leading Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, with polls showing her as the clear frontrunner ahead of the August 11 primary.
• Hong’s main Democratic rivals, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, have dropped out amid scandals and campaign issues, leaving Hong and moderate David Crowley as the primary contenders.
• Republicans have already begun attacking Hong, linking her to the Democratic Socialists of America platform and highlighting her past calls to defund the police, aiming to portray her as too radical for the general election.
• Hong has distanced herself from some extreme positions, stating she does not support the full DSA platform and emphasizing a practical approach to governance, though she has avoided directly clarifying her stance on defunding the police.
• The Wisconsin governor’s race is seen as a key test for the progressive insurgency in a battleground state, with Democrats hoping to regain full control of state government amid a divided party and a polarized electorate.