David Crowley calls for unity after win: Not about ‘establishment versus progressives’

Published August 12, 2026 12:47pm ET | Updated August 12, 2026 12:47pm ET



Newly crowned Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Crowley called for party unity Wednesday after a contentious primary against socialist challenger Francesca Hong, as Wisconsin Democrats seek to move past a divisive contest and focus on defeating Republican nominee Tom Tiffany in November.

The primary exposed deep divisions within the Democratic Party, with progressive Democrats testing whether they could win a statewide election in a state President Donald Trump won in 2024. The race was fluid in the weeks leading up to the election, with several candidates entering and exiting the contest.

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