Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley is back in the Democratic primary for governor. With the Gov. Tony Evers endorsement secured, his ceiling is much higher than originally thought. But what do Democrats think of the move to consolidate the primary field, to beat frontrunner and Democrat Socialist, Francesca Hung? The news has set off a wave of reactions online from strategists and progressive voices.
Francesca Hong struck a measured tone when asked about the endorsement. Hong’s response avoided direct confrontation as her actions (and probably her polling) point to her front runner status remaining unchanged.
Kelda Roys was more pointed and she needs to be to climb out of third or fourth place. Roys made clear she believes Crowley should stay in his current role rather than reenter the race.
Progressive are even describing this coronation as the state party attempting to install a candidate who had been polling near 3 percent while pressing a higher-polling contender to step aside. The idea that these establishment politics are anything but a right-wing talking point are long gone.
State Rep. Ryan Clancy, a Democratic Socialists of America member backing Hong, dismissed concerns about electability. Clancy argued the primary should focus on policy and inspiration rather than claims of unique electability. Although he fails to mention Crowley by name, the insinuation is that the establishment see Crowley as more palatable to the public, but this is pointless as a “sentient rock with a D after its name would beat Tom Tiffany.”
Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki pointed to the political risk.
Zepecki’s comment stopped short of alleging an orchestrated effort but noted how the optics could land with voters already skeptical of party leadership.
Mandela Barnes was seen on video warning Democrats against repeating mistakes seen in other states. He urged the party not to put its “thumbs on the scale” in the primary. Mandela might be the one with the most to lose with Crowley reentering the race and has been opposed by Democrat party insiders from the moment he entered the race.
Almost half of the Democrat primary base is at risk of being stifled by party leadership resulting in thousands of disaffected, and, frankly, pissed off voters. Do they all come home in November? By some, this is a risk not taking and he is porbably correct,
Democrats are split on this race with mere weeks left before election day. Can Crowley consolidate support without pissing off the socialists? Doesn’t matter. That is a problem for them to figure out for their own’s sake. All while Tom Tiffany will gladly stand by and watch their disfunction eat them alive.
