Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary was too close to call late Tuesday, with socialist frontrunner Francesca Hong and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley separated by a razor-thin margin after polls had projected Hong was headed for a decisive victory.
With 82% of the vote reported, Crowley held 39.96% of the vote to Hong’s 39.84%, a virtual tie in a race to determine who faces Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in November.
The nail-biter marked a dramatic departure from pre-election polling, which showed Hong with a commanding lead over her Democratic rivals. One of the final pre-election polls showed Hong leading Crowley 44% to 22%.
Hong, a dues-paying member of the Democratic Socialists of America, had ridden a wave of leftist enthusiasm to become the race’s surprise frontrunner, setting off a late scramble among establishment Democrats to stop her.
Crowley’s unexpectedly strong showing kept that effort alive late Tuesday, with neither candidate able to claim victory as outstanding ballots were still being counted.
