Dem gubernatorial candidate David Crowley downplayed progressives’ win in the Michigan U.S. Senate primary, saying Michigan is “much different” than Wisconsin.

But the Milwaukee County exec, endorsed by Gov. Tony Evers in next week’s Dem primary, said the narrow margin by which progressive Abdul El-Sayed defeated Dem U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens gave him hope.

El-Sayed led Stevens by double digits in some polls ahead of Tuesday’s primary; in last week’s Marquette University Law School poll, state Rep. Francesca Hong held a 22-point lead over her nearest rival, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, while Crowley trailed in third. Barnes dropped out of the race last week, leaving four candidates in Tuesday’s primary. The other candidates are state Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, and former DOA Secretary Joel Brennan.

“My job is to try to win this on the margins, try to go after as many people as possible. But it does give me a little bit of hope,” Crowley said at a Madison meet-and-greet with voters today.

The Crowley campaign circulated a memo arguing the race is closer than polls show, saying their latest survey shows Crowley is performing well with older voters and that those voters are being underweighted relative to the electorate in prior statewide primaries. 

Hong campaign spokesperson Alison Geyer called El-Sayed’s victory “a perfect example of the many versus the money.”

“Dr. Abdul El-Sayed won because he spoke directly to what working people are demanding: universal healthcare, reproductive freedom, and an economy where the ultra-wealthy finally pay their fair share,” Geyer said. 

Crowley said he planned to target the 34% of Dem primary voters who remained undecided as of last week with a statewide blitz, aided by a boost in fundraising and attention brought by Evers’ endorsement. 

He also pushed back when asked about possible voter backlash against establishment Democrats, saying he was “trying to figure out who the establishment is” and that calling him the establishment was a “slur, particularly as an African-American candidate.” 

Madison Rep. Lisa Subeck, the third-ranking Democrat in the Assembly, and Sen. Melissa Ratcliff, D-Cottage Grove, opened for Crowley before his remarks to voters.

Crowley was asked about Hong’s tweets – resurfaced by GOP governor candidate Tom Tiffany and right-wing influencers – calling to end Thanksgiving and complaining about Valentine’s Day and other holidays. He said he didn’t want to see “this level of distraction” in the primary or general election. 

“She’s going to have to deal with what’s going on related to her tweets and how she’s being attacked on that,” Crowley said. “I know a little bit about that.” 

In a statement shared by her campaign, Hong said she and Crowley “disagree on plenty” but that she “agree(s) with him that this manufactured news cycle is a total distraction from the issues that matter.” 

Crowley last month disavowed language used in an old social media account he says he shared with others. His campaign has denied Crowley wrote the vulgar tweets made on the “Dirk McGirk” Twitter account, which last posted in 2014.