Wisconsin Democratic primary gets national spotlight, sparking debate over strategy
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — As the race to be Wisconsin's Democratic nominee for governor has seen a series of dramatic twists, some of the party's most prominent national figures are weighing in. In many cases, they're questioning the strategy of the state's most well-known Democrats.
Friday marked one week since the most dramatic shift in the race; Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out after a massive money mishap left her without enough money to compete, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who exited the race and endorsed Rodriguez, resurrected his campaign with the support of Gov. Tony Evers.
Polls conducted by the Marquette Law School earlier this year and again this week have shown State Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison) as the frontrunner in the Democratic field.
Democratic sources have told CBS 58 some of the party's most prominent members, including top lawmakers, are concerned Hong, a Democratic Socialist, cannot beat the presumptive GOP nominee, Congressman Tom Tiffany, in the November election.
The decision of those around Evers and other party power brokers to back Crowley has raised eyebrows around the country. Critics have questioned why the party's elite decided against backing former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who lost to Sen. Ron Johnson the 2022 U.S. Senate race.
"If Hong wins the primary and loses the general, this is the establishment decided to put in someone else, potentially split the vote with Barnes," Jon Favreau, a speechwriter for former President Barack Obama, said on his "Pod Saves America" podcast. "And that's where we ended up where we did."
In a Marquette Law poll released earlier this week, Hong remained the frontrunner with 26% of respondents backing her. Barnes was next at 15%. The poll was taken before Crowley re-entered the race, so he wasn't accounted for, and the biggest number was 45% of voters still undecided.
Internal polls released by Barnes this month showed him solidly in second behind Hong, at 26% compared to her 39%. An internal poll from the Crowley campaign showed him in a virtual tie with Barnes while Hong was 20 points ahead at 35%.
Former Obama advisor David Axelrod has also questioned Wisconsin Democrats' approach to the primary.
"The Dem race for governor in WI feels like a slow-rolling car headed for a cliff," Axelrod wrote in a post on X Thursday. "If Dems there don't figure it out, they'll endanger a potential House pickup opportunity and risk installing as governor an election-denying, Freedom Caucus member just in time for the '28 election."
CBS 58 has spoken with Wisconsin Democratic sources who privately say they don't think Barnes can beat Tiffany, either. This week's Marquette poll showed Barnes ahead of Tiffany while Hong trailed him in hypothetical head-to-head matchups.
Scot Ross, a Democratic analyst based in Madison, dismissed the out-of-state criticisms.
"Honestly, I don't give a damn what the Pod Save America guys or David Axelrod say," Ross said. "Because they presided over Democrats losing a thousand seats the eight years Obama was in office."
Ross worked on Kathleen Falk's run for governor in 2002, when she finished third in the Democratic primary as the first woman to run for governor in state history. Ross maintained that while party brokers may inside on consolidating support behind one opponent of Hong's, one factor will ultimately determine whether any of the candidates bow out between now and the August 11 election.
"If I'm a candidate, and I'm in the race, and I am still raising money, it means I have support," Ross said. "And I'm gonna stay in. If my fundraising dries, that's when I make the decision that maybe it's time."