Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates largely avoided criticizing state Rep. Francesca Hong during their only televised primary debate Tuesday, despite a poll released earlier in the day showing the democratic socialist leading the field 44% to 15%.
The five contenders — Hong, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, former administration secretary Joel Brennan and state Sen. Kelda Roys — focused mainly on areas of agreement on issues such as public safety, education funding and data centers rather than drawing contrasts with the front-runner.
A State Navigate poll conducted for UpNorthNews and Main Street Action found Hong with a commanding 29-point edge over Crowley, her nearest rival. Some party strategists have expressed private concern that Hong’s progressive positions could hurt Democrats against likely Republican nominee U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in the general election.
Yet the candidates largely declined to challenge her record or electability on the debate stage hosted by WISN-TV. Hong faced only limited questioning about her Democratic Socialists of America membership and used the moment to distance herself from parts of the national group’s platform while reiterating support for working-class priorities.
With early voting underway and the Aug. 11 primary less than two weeks away, the restrained tone left Hong largely unscathed. Analysts said the reluctance to confront the polling leader effectively handed her a clearer path to the nomination in a fragmented field.
