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Crowley declares victory in Dem gubernatorial primary
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley declared victory early this morning in his pursuit of the Democratic nomination to be Wisconsin’s next governor.
A Crowley spokesperson said state Rep. Francesca Hong, who was trailing Crowley by about 3,000 votes in unofficial returns, had called the county executive to concede.
Crowley campaign manager Garren Randolph quickly turned his attention to GOP nominee Tom Tiffany, a congressman from Minocqua. He cast the general election as a choice between leadership focused on solving problems or “the division and extremism of Tom Tiffany and Donald Trump.”
“David is ready to get back to work, build a broad coalition, and win in November,” Randolph said.
Read more here.
Crowley supporters celebrate after Milwaukee absentee ballots come in
Milwaukee County and city of Milwaukee election officials announced Milwaukee absentee vote results at about 1:20 a.m., following about a two-hour processing delay that officials say was caused by “human error.”
The announcement, which helped Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley increase his lead over state Rep. Francesca Hong in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, touched off a loud celebration in the lobby of Milwaukee’s Hyatt Regency hotel.
About 20 Crowley supporters, who had spent much of the evening upstairs at a Crowley election night party, cheered loudly and chanted “David, David” as they believed the Milwaukee numbers meant Crowley would defeat Hong.
One of the backers, Javod Diearre, who is Black, said his expectation of a primary victory by Crowley, who is also Black, “represents a great moment in history. You see people crying, celebrating, because we understand the barriers that we have to break in Wisconsin–to see a Black man actually have an opportunity to fight to be governor.”
Also celebrating was Waukesha Mayor Alicia Halvensleben. While the office is non-partisan, she says she votes for Democrats. Halvensleben said, “We are cheering because we know we can defeat (GOP nominee) Tom Tiffany. We can defeat an election denier, somebody who just backs (President) Trump without question.”
Crowley did not speak to supporters at the Hyatt.
Crowley leads Dem gubernatorial primary after Milwaukee County absentee results added in
(See an updated item on the race here)
David Crowley had a nearly 4,000-vote lead over state Rep. Francesca Hong in the race for the Dem gubernatorial nomination after Milwaukee absentee ballots were added into the statewide count.
With 97% of precincts in statewide, Crowley was at 39.9% of the vote, while Hong was at 39.4%.
Milwaukee’s central count to tabulate absentee ballots has been plagued by errors in past elections that delayed statewide results, and it happened again in the primary. There were issues transferring results from tabulators to flash drives that could then be uploaded to the Milwaukee County Clerk’s website.
Crowley had a 1,198-vote lead in Milwaukee County before the absentee ballots were added in. Once they were reported, his edge in the county jumped to 2,392 votes.
Other communities had issues that delayed their results as well. Winnebago County, for example, had issues with a server that required local clerks to come back in to load up the results again.
Meanwhile, Green County reported its results might not be available until later today after server issues. County staff was having problems accessing encrypted files that 16 municipal clerks had loaded up.
Primaries set candidates in safe districts up for November wins
See an overview of the Senate races here and the Assembly races here.
Primaries were also decided in competitive districts that could determine control of the Legislature. Read more here.
Moore tells Crowley supporters Milwaukee absentee ballot counting error will delay results
Just after midnight, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, took the stage at the Crowley election night party and announced that problems with counting city of Milwaukee absentee ballots would “probably take another one and a half hours” to resolve.
Moore’s remarks came after Milwaukee city and county election officials held a briefing at the county courthouse talking about a “human error” that had surfaced during the processing of the city ballots. That problem was due to issues transferring results from tabulators to flash drives that could then be uploaded to the Milwaukee County Clerk’s website.
Moore told the crowd, which had shrunk after the ballot problem announcement, that on Wednesday, Democrats must get behind their nominee for governor. Moore said, “We gotta unify this thing. We have to give some grace to those who did not prevail. Because we’re all in this together.”
Hong addresses supporters as incoming results show close race with Crowley
Dem gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong said her campaign is something that “will change politics forever” and her candidacy has been “an honor of a lifetime” in a message to her Madison watch party attendees.
“We have built a beautiful, multi-generational, multi-partisan, multiracial working-class movement, and it is a movement that meets the moment. This is unprecedented here, and this is how we’re going to win,” Hong said.
Hong currently trails Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley by less than a percentage point, with 93% of the votes counted. She also thanked supporters and canvassers for coming together to “demand something new and something better.”
Hong also issued a call for unity, regardless of the outcome of the primary election, to defeat GOP gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany.
“We will win together, united, because everyone who’s running in this race, they know that we can make better possible, and we must make better possible. And together, with each other, and for each other, we will make better possible,” Hong said.
Before she addressed the crowd, Hong backers packed an east side Madison venue, holding beverages and singing along to pounding pop music.
A screen projector televised the CNN broadcast tracking votes, and backers took advantage of a make-your-own-Hong sign table in the corner where Hong supporters wrote slogans such as “Feral 4 Fran” and “Hotties for Hong.”
Clark declares victory in 7th CD primary, setting up showdown with Alfonso
Former state Rep. Fred Clark has won the Democratic primary for the 7th CD, setting up a showdown with former podcast producer Michael Alfonso.
Clark, who represented the Baraboo area in southcentral Wisconsin for three terms in the Assembly, issued a statement declaring victory over IT business owner Chris Armstrong and attorney Ginger Murray shortly before the AP called the race at 11:37 p.m.
“We need to turn the page and take back Congress for the American people. This election is not about left or right – it’s about right and wrong,” Clark said.
Alfonso is heavily favored to win in the Northwoods district, which has not elected a Democrat to Congress since U.S. Rep. Dave Obey retired in 2011.
Winnebago County results delayed due to server issue
Update, 1:04 a.m. Aug. 12: Winnebego County is reporting 73% of the vote in, with Francesca Hong at 43.9% and David Crowley at 39.4%
Winnebago County is having server issues that are delaying election results being reported online.
“As a result, election totals are being uploaded from each of our 21 municipalities as they are physically brought in to the County Clerk’s office, which may cause delays in posting updated results,” Hintz posted on Facebook. “There are no issues at polling locations or with the counting of ballots. Voting and ballot counting are proceeded normally.”
Martinez-Rutherford wins Dem nomination for deep-blue 76th AD
Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford has won the Democratic nomination for the 76th AD.
Martinez-Rutherford, a Madison City Council member, emerged the victor of a five-way race to succeed state Rep. Francesca Hong that also included: state legislative policy director Isaia Ben-Ami, former Madison alder and legislative staffer Juliana Bennett; musician and community organizer Tony Castañeda and independent journalist Zoe Sullivan.
The current alder benefitted from some $30,001 in outside spending by the pro-LGBTQ+ Fair Wisconsin PAC.
Martinez-Rutherford is heavily favored to win the district, which includes Madison’s downtown and east side and is one of the most liberal in the country. She will face Nina Chat, who has raised just $200, in November.
If elected, she’ll be the first transgender woman to serve in the state Legislature.
Wicklund wins GOP primary for Speaker Vos’ Assembly district
Union Grove Village President and electrician Steve Wicklund has bested Walworth County Board Chair Rick Stacey in the GOP primary for the 33rd AD, former Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’s district.
Wicklund outraised and outspent Stacey by threefold and picked up endorsements from prominent state legislators like retiring Sen. Van Wanggaard, or Racine, and Reps. Amanda Nedweski of Pleasant Prairie and Bob Wittke of Caledonia.
Vos did not endorse a candidate for the seat, which is expected to stay red.
GOP-backed candidates lose in secretary of state, lt. governor’s races
The endorsement of the state GOP isn’t amounting to much in two contested races for constitutional offices.
Along with Jay Schroeder topping party-backed Nate Pollnow in the secretary of state race, David Varnam defeated Will Martin in the lt. governor’s race.
Delegates at the May state convention voted to back Pollnow and Martin, which gave the candidates access to party resources and help in their campaigns.
The party also voted to endorse Tom Tiffany for governor; he faced token opposition today. It also backed state Treasurer John Leiber and AG candidate Eric Toney. Both were also unopposed on today’s ballot.
Varnam wins GOP nomination for lt. governor
Lancaster Mayor David Varnam won the GOP primary for lt. governor and will now run on a ticket with GOP gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany.
Varnam beat Will Martin, a small business owner from Racine, 54.1% to 45.8%, with 60% of the votes counted. Martin had been endorsed by the state GOP at its convention in May.
Sarah Godlewski, the current secretary of state, ran unopposed in the Dem primary and will run on a ticket with the Democratic gubernatorial nominee.
Xiong wins Dem primary for state treasurer
Yee Leng Xiong won the Democratic primary for state treasurer, as the party looks to reclaim the only state constitutional office held by Republicans.
Xiong, a Marathon County supervisor bested Dylan Helmenstine, a Wisconsin Heights school board member from Black Earth. He had 58% of the vote, with 60% of the votes counted.
GOP incumbent John Leiber, ran unopposed in his party’s primary. Xiong, if elected in November, would be the first Hmong American elected to statewide office in the United States.
Cooke wins 3rd CD Dem primary
Rebecca Cooke will get a rematch against U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, in November after winning the Democratic primary for western Wisconsin’s 3rd CD.
Cooke narrowly lost to Van Orden in 2024. Cooke beat former Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge by double-digits, securing 56.9% of the vote to Berge’s 43%, with 62% of the votes counted.
Cooke far outraised Berge banking $6.5 million to her $566,000 in the July continuing finance reports.
Cooke also had the endorsement of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont.
Van Orden was running unopposed in the primary in his bid for a third congressional term in the nationally targeted district.
Alfonso wins 7th CD GOP primary
Michael Alfonso has won the GOP nomination for the northern 7th CD.
The Associated Press called the race at 9:16 p.m., 76 minutes after polls closed.
The 26-year-old former podcast producer triumphed over a slate of candidates with more political and career experience, boosted by an endorsement from President Donald Trump and millions in outside spending. He’s the son-in-law of Trump Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who used to represent the district.
He will face the winner of a three-way race between former state Rep. Fred Clark, IT business owner Chris Armstrong and family law attorney Ginger Murray in November.
Berman wins 1st CD Dem primary
Aug. 11 @ 9:24 p.m
Mitchell Berman has won the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin’s 1st CD as the party attempts to flip the seat.
Berman, an emergency nurse from Racine, will face GOP incumbent U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Janesville, in November.
Berman had secured 42.7% of the votes at the time AP called the race with 54% of votes counted.
Berman was facing Miguel Aranda and Lorenzo Santos who secured 20.4% and 15.1% of the votes, respectively. Milwaukee Common Council member Peter Burgelis was also on the ballot and secured 21.5% of the votes though he suspended his campaign July 15.
Schroeder wins GOP primary for Secretary of State
Aug. 11 @ 9:18 p.m.
Jay Schroeder emerged as the winner in a crowded field for the GOP secretary of state nomination, securing 46.4% of the primary vote with 32% of votes counted.
AP declared him the winner, with less than 30% of the votes counted. Nate Pollnow, a Dodge County farmer, was second at 27.8% of the votes, followed by army veteran Cindy Werner with 14.2% and Brayden Meyer, a small business owner from Manitowoc, at 11.6%
Pollnow was unanimously endorsed by GOP delegates at the state party’s convention.
Schroeder, a businessman from Neenah, has previously denied the results of the 2020 presidential election and called for the dismantling of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. He previously ran for the office back in 2022 but lost in the primary to former lawmaker Amy Loudenbeck.
JoCasta Zamarripa, a Milwaukee alder and former lawmaker, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Additionally, Pete Karas, a former Racine City Council member, is a registered candidate under the Wisconsin Green Party.
Crowley has lead with more than half the vote in
Aug. 11 @ 9:14 p.m.
With more than half of the vote in statewide, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley had a narrow lead over state Rep. Francesca Hong in the Dem gubernatorial primary.
With 57% of the vote in, according to unofficial returns, Crowley was at 40%, while Hong was at 39%.
In the top three counties for Dem primary votes:
—Milwaukee County: Crowley 44.9%, Hong 43.7% with 483 of 521 precincts in;
—Dane Co: Hong 42.4%, Crowley 37.9 % with 194 of 281 in;
—Waukesha Co: Crowley 53.2%, Hong 46.6% with 160 of 183 in;
In other races, as of 9:10 p.m., according to AP results:
Lieutenant governor GOP primary: David Varnam was leading 54% to Will Martin’s 46%, with 39% of the vote tallied.
Secretary of state GOP primary: Jay Schroeder was leading with 46% of the vote, with 38% of the vote in. Nate Pollnow was second at 28%.
State treasurer Dem primary: Yee Leng Xiong was leading with 58% to Dylan Helmenstine’s 42%. with 54% of the vote counted.
3rd CD Dem primary: Rebecca Cooke was leading with 59% to Emily Berge’s 41% with 45% of the vote in.
7th CD GOP primary: Michael Alfonso was leading 46% with 26% of the vote tallied. In second place was Kevin Hermening with 33%.
Polls are closed. Here’s what to watch.
Aug. 11 @ 8 p.m.
The polls are closed in Wisconsin. Here’s what we’re keeping an eye on tonight:
- A four-way race for the Dem gubernatorial nomination that is considered a key test of the democratic socialist movement’s strength in a swing state.
- GOP primaries for lieutenant governor and secretary of state, and a Dem primary for state treasurer.
- A half-dozen lawmakers who face primary challengers.
- And another dozen or so legislative races that will either put the winner in prime shape to win the seat come November or factor into the top races that will determine control of the Legislature.
And here’s a key on what to watch in the Dem gubernatorial primary: Milwaukee, Dane and Waukesha counties combined to account for 45.7% of the vote in the 2018 race for the party’s nomination. If any of the contenders were to win all three handedly, it would make the path to top them quite challenging.
Dems, Republicans plan post-election tours to tout nominees
Aug. 11 @ 5 p.m.
The Dem and GOP nominees for governor and other offices are planning post-primary tours around the state.
The GOP candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general will be in Green Bay, West Allis and DeForest tomorrow in what Tom Tiffany is calling the “Common-Sense Leadership Tour.” The congressman from Minocqua faces underfunded medical services technician Andy Manske in the party’s gubernatorial primary.
Meanwhile, the Dem nominees for governor and lieutenant governor will be joined by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, on what the party is calling the “Forward Wisconsin Tour.”
It will start with a breakfast stop in Middleton before heading to Racine and Milwaukee as part of a five-day trip with 17 stops planned.
State Rep. Francesa Hong, D-Madison, and Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley have been leading publicly released polls for the Dem gubernatorial nomination, while former DOA Secretary Joel Brennan and state Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, are still actively seeking the nomination.
Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski is unopposed for the Dem nomination in the lieutenant governor’s race.
On the GOP side, Racine businessman Will Martin faces former Lancaster Mayor David Varnam for the party’s nomination in the lieutenant governor’s race, while Fond du Lac DA Eric Toney is unopposed for the Republican nomination to take on Dem AG Josh Kaul.
Duffy endorses incumbent Rep. Green’s challenger in GOP primary
Aug. 11 @ 5 p.m.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy endorsed the primary opponent of GOP Rep. Chanz Green over the weekend, calling Scott Harbridge “America first, Wisconsin first.”
The backing has raised eyebrows among Republicans, particularly with it coming days after Chanz, R-Mason, told a podcast that he believes Kevin Hermening is the better candidate in the 7th CD GOP primary over Duffy’s son-in-law, Michael Alfonso.
GOP state Sen. Romaine Quinn, who has endorsed Hermening, said it was “crazy” for Duffy to support a primary challenge of a sitting Republican lawmaker who has the support of his caucus. Harbridge is again challenging Green after losing to him in the 2024 primary by 921 votes.
Duffy, who represented the 7th CD from 2011-19, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment left with an intermediary.
Crowley, Hong make final pitches to voters ahead of primary
Aug 11 @ 9:07 a.m.
Dem frontrunners David Crowley and Francesca Hong highlighted their experiences as elected officials and warned of the dangers of presumptive GOP nominee Tom Tiffany ahead of today’s gubernatorial primary election.
Hong, a state rep from Madison, has continued to lead Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, and the rest of the Democratic primary field by double digits in the latest polling.
Hong held events with campaign volunteers in both Madison and Sun Prairie yesterday, while Crowley also made a Madison stop along with events in Oshkosh, Stevens Point and Milwaukee.
Read a WisPolitics-State Affairs story here.
Trump reiterates his support for Tiffany, Alfonso
Aug 11 @ 9:07 a.m.
On the eve of Wisconsin’s primary, Donald Trump again endorsed Tom Tiffany in the governor’s race, calling him a highly respected “America First Congressman” who “has always been at my side.”
The president also restated his support for Wisconsin’s GOP congressmen: Bryan Steil in the 1st CD, Derrick Van Orden in the 3rd, Scott Fitzgerald in the 5th, Glenn Grothman in the 6th and Tony Wied in the 8th in a series of posts on Truth Social.
And Trump once again praised Michael Alfonso in the 7th CD, calling the 26-year-old a “MAGA Warrior” and “a young ‘STAR.’”
Tiffany faces Andy Manske, an underfunded medical services technician from Greendale, for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, and Alfonso is running in a five-way Republican primary in the 7th CD. The others Trump endorsed are unopposed on today’s ballot.
Trump issued a series of endorsements late yesterday on his Truth Social page for candidates in states that have races on today’s ballot.
He also hosted a second tele-rally for Alfonso yesterday afternoon.
Read more in Tuesday’s AM Update.
Absentee voting down compared to four years ago
Aug. 11 @ 9:07 a.m.
Wisconsin voters have so far returned fewer absentee ballots than they had at the same point four years ago.
Still, Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe cautioned against reading too much into the number, telling reporters it could simply be that more voters want to cast their ballots in person compared to 2022.
The agency doesn’t predict turnout ahead of an election.
“We never know what that voter behavior is going to look like, and it can fluctuate a lot,” Wolfe said.
As of Monday morning’s update, voters had returned 268,110 absentee ballots. That’s behind the 295,059 that had been returned at the same point ahead of the primary four years ago.
In the August 2022 primary, more than 1.2 million voters turned out, or about 26.3%. That was the highest level for a midterm primary since 1982.
That ballot included a contested race for the GOP nomination in the governor’s race, as well as a Dem primary for the U.S. Senate, though three of the four candidates dropped out of that race in the weeks leading up to the primary.
This year’s ballot includes a contested race for the Dem gubernatorial nomination, as well as partisan primaries in the races for lieutenant governor, secretary of state and treasurer.
Six lawmakers also face primary challenges.
The city of Milwaukee will have at least 24,905 absentee ballots to count, though that number could climb higher. City election officials sent 33,566 absentee ballots to voters, and they’re due back by 8 p.m. today to be counted.
Four years ago, city officials sent 35,673 absentee ballots and had reported 27,555 returned by the day before the primary.