The answer lives in this podcast Up First from NPR · Leila Fadel

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Published August 12, 2026 · Editorial summary by Listenly based on the real audio episode · Topics: Wisconsin Public Radio · Democratic primary · Wisconsin governor's race

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley is the moderate Democratic alternative to Francesca Hong. Crowley had previously dropped out of the race to support another moderate candidate, whose campaign then imploded, prompting him to re-enter the primary. His return was bolstered by an endorsement from outgoing Governor Tony Evers, which helped him raise a significant amount of money in just a few weeks.

The Wisconsin governor's primary is shaping up as a defining test of where Democratic voters stand on the progressive-versus-centrist divide. On one side, Hong — a self-described democratic socialist and state representative — has run a grassroots, volunteer-driven campaign that has shaken up what many expected to be a more conventional race. On the other, Crowley represents the more establishment wing of the party, now operating with the institutional credibility that Evers' endorsement provides.

The unusual path Crowley took — exiting the race, watching a rival moderate collapse, then re-entering with high-profile backing — underscores just how unsettled the Democratic field has been. As reported by Wisconsin Public Radio and featured on Up First from NPR, today's primaries across six states are being watched closely as a gauge of how much appetite Democratic voters have for non-mainstream candidates heading into the broader fight against Trump-aligned candidates.