Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has won Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, the Associated Press declared at 2:34 a.m. Wednesday, narrowly defeating state Rep. Francesca Hong after a count that ran deep into the night. With 98% of the vote counted at the time of the call, Crowley led by about half a percentage point — roughly 3,211 votes. Hong called Crowley to concede, according to a spokesperson for his campaign.
Crowley and Hong led a field of Democratic candidates seeking the party’s nomination for an open seat: Democratic Gov. Tony Evers did not seek a third term this year. Crowley’s own path to the ballot was not a straight line — he suspended his campaign on July 8, saying it had become clear he would “not be the Democratic nominee for governor,” then re-entered the race on July 18, a day after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez ended her own campaign over what were reported as campaign-finance filing issues. Hong, a Madison state representative, democratic socialist and former restaurant chef who in 2020 became the first Asian American elected to the Wisconsin Assembly, finished the count just behind him.
The primary was held Tuesday, August 11, 2026, alongside a separate Republican gubernatorial primary. Wisconsin’s county clerks will still post their own final results, and the state elections commission certifies the outcome later, after each county finishes its official count — a step known as the canvass — but the AP’s call is the one most news organizations treat as decisive.
Key facts
- The Associated Press called the race for David Crowley at 2:34 a.m. Wednesday, with 98% counted and a lead of about half a percentage point (roughly 3,211 votes) over Francesca Hong.
- Hong conceded, calling Crowley directly, according to a spokesperson for his campaign.
- Democratic primary for governor, an open seat — Gov. Tony Evers did not seek a third term.
- Primary held Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
- Dane County (Madison), fully counted, had Hong ahead 66,914 (44.0%) to Crowley’s 55,732 (36.7%) — one county, not the statewide result.
- The count ran late after a “human error” delayed roughly 28,000 absentee ballots in Milwaukee County.
- Tom Tiffany won the Republican primary; he faces Crowley on November 3, 2026.
How the count came together
Crowley and Hong finished the night separated by well under a point, and the margin moved before it settled: it grew after Milwaukee County’s delayed absentee ballots were added, then narrowed again in later updates. Around 11 p.m. Tuesday, with 86% of the vote counted, Crowley led 40.0% to 39.6%, a gap of about 2,600 votes. By roughly 1:29 a.m. Wednesday, with about 97% counted, his lead had grown to 39.88% to 39.38% — a gap Urban Milwaukee put at nearly 4,000 votes. The Associated Press made its call at 2:34 a.m., with 98% counted and the margin back down to roughly 3,211 votes, about half a percentage point.
One county with a complete, official count is Dane County, home to Madison: its canvass, finished at 100% of precincts, had Hong ahead there with 66,914 votes (44.0%) to Crowley’s 55,732 (36.7%). Madison is Hong territory — but it is one county, not the statewide race the primary turned on.
Why the count ran so late
The delay traced to Milwaukee County, where a “human error” kept tabulator results for roughly 28,000 absentee ballots from transferring correctly onto the flash drives used to upload them to the county’s website. U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, whose district includes Milwaukee, said fixing the problem would take about another hour and a half. The fix pushed the county’s absentee numbers — and with them the full unofficial statewide count — past midnight and into Wednesday. Those absentee results were folded into every count reported after that point, including the AP’s eventual call.
Hong concedes
Hong addressed supporters late Tuesday night, before the race was called, with the result still undetermined. “Wisconsin, we have built something that will change politics forever,” she said, adding: “I know we don’t have the final results right now, but what I do know is that we are ready to keep fighting.” After the AP’s call early Wednesday, Hong called Crowley directly to concede, according to a spokesperson for his campaign.
Who else was on the ballot
Four Democrats were seen as active contenders: Crowley, Hong, state Sen. Kelda Roys and Joel Brennan, a former Evers administration official. Roys and Brennan finished well behind Crowley and Hong, each with a single-digit share of the statewide vote. Three other Democrats who had already suspended their campaigns — Mandela Barnes, Sara Rodriguez and Missy Hughes — remained on the ballot and drew small numbers of votes.
The Republican side, and what’s next
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany won the Republican primary for governor, defeating first-time candidate Andy Manske by a wide margin. Tiffany carries President Trump’s endorsement, given via Truth Social in late January 2026; a rival Republican candidate dropped out of the race within a day of that endorsement.
Crowley, the Democratic nominee, will face Tiffany in the general election on November 3, 2026, for Wisconsin’s open governor’s seat.
Sources and further reading
- Absentee Ballot Report — August 11, 2026 Partisan Primary
- 8-11-26 Partisan Primary — Unofficial Results (Election Night Website)
- 2026 Partisan Primary event page
- UWM alum and Milwaukee County executive David Crowley running to become Wisconsin’s first Black governor
- Election Result — 08/11/2026 2026 Partisan Primary (Dane County)
- NBC News Unveils Comprehensive Cross-Platform Coverage for 2026 Midterms
- Crowley wins Wisconsin’s 2026 Democratic primary for governor in a photo finish — PBS Wisconsin