Progressives Gear up for Showdown in Wisconsin and Minnesota Primaries
WHO:
ABC News - Gov. Tony Evers endorsed Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on July 18, the same day Crowley reentered the race after dropping out 10 days earlier.
ABC News - U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's son-in-law Michael Alfonso is in a five-person Republican primary to replace Tom Tiffany.
ABC News - Progressive candidates include Francesca Hong for governor in Wisconsin and Peggy Flanagan for U.S. Senate in Minnesota.
ABC News - David Crowley is a candidate for governor in Wisconsin, endorsed by Gov. Tony Evers.
ABC News - U.S. Rep. Angie Craig is a candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota.
ABC News - Trump endorsed Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin.
ABC News - Michael Alfonso is a candidate in the Republican primary to replace Tiffany.
WHAT:
ABC News - The Republican Governors Association has spent nearly $3.6 million through its Right Direction Wisconsin PAC on ads contrasting Hong with Trump.
ABC News - Evers stated at a rally, “If Tom Tiffany wins in November that will be like electing Donald Trump as governor of the state of Wisconsin.”
ABC News - The primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota are set for Tuesday.
ABC News - Abdul El-Sayed defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s U.S. Senate primary.
ABC News - The Republican Governors Association has spent nearly $3.6 million on ads against Hong.
ABC News - Crowley stated, “Our ultimate goal is to make sure we don’t have a MAGA extremist occupying the governor’s office.”
ABC News - The Minnesota Senate primary is one of the most expensive in the state’s history.
WHERE:
ABC News - A rally for Crowley was held in Hong’s hometown of Madison, Wisconsin.
ABC News - The events are taking place in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
ABC News - A rally for Crowley was held in Madison, Wisconsin.
ABC News - The primary candidates are campaigning in the Twin Cities metro area in Minnesota.
WHEN:
ABC News - The Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries are scheduled for Tuesday.
ABC News - Gov. Tony Evers endorsed David Crowley on July 18.
ABC News - Mandela Barnes dropped out of the race on July 29.
WHY:
ABC News - Crowley and other Democrats argue that the Republican ads are meant to bolster Hong's standing in the primary because Republicans see her as the easier opponent.
ABC News - The Democratic establishment is under pressure due to the leftward shift in battleground states.
ABC News - Republicans believe Hong will be a better matchup against Tiffany in November.
HOW:
ABC News - Flanagan campaigned Saturday with U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who helped her make the case that Washington needs a shakeup to root out the deep-pocketed forces propping up a broken status quo.
ABC News - Evers and Crowley campaigned together across Wisconsin before the primary.
ABC News - Craig emphasized the need for Democrats to win elections to pass progressive policies.
(UPDATED August 10, 2026 14:22 UTC)
Governor Tony Evers has endorsed Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who recently reentered the race after briefly dropping out, during a rally held in Madison, Wisconsin. Meanwhile, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's son-in-law, Michael Alfonso, is competing in a five-person Republican primary to replace Tom Tiffany, who is facing criticism from Crowley and other Democrats regarding Republican ads that aim to boost Hong's chances in the primary. Evers emphasized the stakes of the upcoming election by stating that a win for Tiffany would be akin to electing Trump as governor of Wisconsin.
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(UPDATED August 10, 2026 05:21 UTC)
In Wisconsin and Minnesota, the primaries are heating up with candidates like Francesca Hong and David Crowley vying for governor, while U.S. Rep. Angie Craig is running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Trump has endorsed Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is facing a challenge from Michael Alfonso in the primary, and the Republican Governors Association has invested nearly $3.6 million in ads against Hong. As the Democratic establishment faces pressure from a leftward shift in battleground states, Crowley has rallied support in Madison, stating that their goal is to prevent a MAGA extremist from taking the governor's office.