Progressives Challenge Democratic Establishment in Key Midwest Primaries

Democratic primary elections on Tuesday in Wisconsin and Minnesota highlight a growing rift between the party's moderate establishment and its progressive wing. In Wisconsin, democratic socialist Francesca Hong is competing in a four-way gubernatorial primary against Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. The Republican Governors Association has spent nearly $3.6 million supporting Hong, viewing her as a weaker general election opponent than Crowley, who is endorsed by Governor Tony Evers.

In Minnesota, Angie Craig, a moderate U.S. Representative, is vying for a U.S. Senate seat against progressive Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. The race to replace retiring Senator Tina Smith has become a proxy battle over party direction, with Flanagan backed by Senator Bernie Sanders. The contest is shaped by a backlash to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis and a pandemic-era welfare fraud scandal involving hundreds of millions of dollars.

Craig has criticized Flanagan for her role as a top state leader during the fraud crisis, warning that the scandal creates a vulnerability for Republicans. Flanagan has defended her record, stating that Governor Tim Walz took the lead in addressing the fallout. The fraud has already been leveraged by Republican front-runner Michele Tafoya to characterize the state as an epicenter of fraud. These contests follow a progressive victory in Michigan's Senate primary, fueling concerns among Democratic leaders about electability in battleground states.