Wisconsin Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong speaks throughout a marketing campaign rally on August 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Joshua Lott | Getty Pictures
Progressives and moderates will face off once more in Tuesday’s Democratic main elections in Wisconsin and Minnesota because the social gathering decides whether or not to lurch additional to the left or chart towards the center after crushing losses to Republicans in 2024.
Populist progressives in current months have capitalized on financial anger to defeat institution Democratic candidates throughout the nation, setting off a doubtlessly seismic political shift inside the social gathering. Final week in Michigan, progressive former well being official Abdul El-Sayed defeated the extra average Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens in a main to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. — the newest beautiful upset for longtime social gathering energy brokers who backed Stevens.
The progressive swell might be examined once more on Tuesday as candidates within the mildew of New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., vie for gubernatorial and Senate nominations in Wisconsin and Minnesota in opposition to establishment-backed moderates.
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, Francesca Hong is working to be the state’s subsequent governor and is the clear polling favourite heading into Election Day. Hong, who leads the sphere by double digits in current polls, is endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America’s Milwaukee chapter and is a staunch progressive. Some distinguished Democrats akin to Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., have endorsed Hong.
A few of Hong’s previous feedback, together with calling for the cancellation of Thanksgiving and abolishing the police, have garnered scrutiny in current days. Hong has since distanced herself from each statements.
She is going through a subject that features the extra average Milwaukee County Govt David Crowley, who’s endorsed by retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Crowley had beforehand dropped out of the race, however reentered and scored Evers’ endorsements as some Democrats concern Hong is simply too progressive to win the overall election within the purple state.
Hong’s platform consists of providing common childcare, creating publicly owned grocery shops, establishing a public choice healthcare plan and launching a public financial institution. She has additionally referred to as for elevating taxes on the rich in Wisconsin to pay for extra companies.
The winner of the Democratic contest will possible face Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., within the common election. Tiffany, who has served within the Home since 2020, represents northern Wisconsin. He’s a member of the ultra-conservative Home Freedom Caucus.
Tiffany is proposing freezing property taxes, rolling again different tax will increase and rising vitality manufacturing.
Republicans have seized on the surge of progressives within the Democratic Get together, branding the social gathering’s left flank as “communists.” Not one of the high-profile Democrats in key primaries this yr assist communist insurance policies.
Minnesota
In Minnesota, progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and average Democratic Rep. Angie Craig are in a decent race for the nomination to interchange the retiring Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn.
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, speaks throughout a volunteer appreciation occasion at Black Coronary heart of Saint Paul on August 8, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Stephen Maturen | Getty Pictures
Flanagan, who’s the No. 2 official within the state behind retiring Gov. Tim Walz, is working a progressive marketing campaign and has been endorsed by Smith and high lawmakers on the left akin to Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. She has additionally nabbed the endorsement of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Get together — the official state Democratic social gathering — however in contrast to Hong, shouldn’t be backed by the Twin Cities DSA chapter.
She’s pushing for a common healthcare plan generally known as Medicare for all, needs to dismantle Immigration and Customs Enforcement and seeks to halt offensive weapons gross sales to Israel.
Assist for Israel has turn out to be a flashpoint for Democrats in main contests as many on the left recoil from the Jewish state’s conduct throughout the battle in Gaza that was launched in response to Hamas’ assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Flanagan has referred to as Israel’s actions a “genocide.”
Flanagan, nevertheless, has caught some flak for her proximity to Walz and the cascading social companies fraud scandal that prompted the 2024 vice presidential candidate to desert his reelection bid. Flanagan has expressed remorse that the administration didn’t act quicker, however has defended the administration’s response and subsequent crackdown on fraud.
President Donald Trump and his Republican allies earlier this yr seized on the fraud claims, a few of that are years previous, to launch an immigration crackdown and pause some Medicaid funding in Minnesota.
Craig, in a debate with Flanagan, stated “Republicans are going to have a subject day with you” over her connection to the fraud scandal.
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), speaks with supporters throughout a canvass launch whereas campaigning on August 9, 2026 in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
Tom Baker | Getty Pictures
Craig, in the meantime, is a average who flipped a Republican-held seat in 2018. She leapfrogged to the highest minority slot of the Home Agriculture Committee on this Congress, defeating a number of extra senior candidates to safe the spot.
She argues that her capacity to win a purple district makes her one of the best candidate in opposition to a Republican in what’s anticipated to be a decent election. Craig has scored endorsements from Home Democratic Chief Hakeem Jeffries, former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Whereas Craig doesn’t assist Medicare for all, she has launched a invoice to create a government-run healthcare plan generally known as a public choice or Medicare for all who need it. Craig additionally helps the standard U.S.-Israel relationship, voting in opposition to an modification final month that sought to strip U.S. assist to Israel whereas expressing her dissatisfaction with present Israeli management.
Craig has been criticized, nevertheless, for being the one Minnesota Democrat to vote for the Laken Riley Act. That invoice required ICE to detain undocumented immigrants who’re arrested or face expenses or who’ve been convicted of housebreaking, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assault of a regulation enforcement officer or any crime that leads to demise or critical bodily harm.
Immigration enforcement is a key situation in Minnesota after federal brokers shot and killed two U.S. residents within the state throughout the immigration crackdown earlier this yr.
Craig has since backtracked on her assist of that invoice, saying she regrets it in an op-ed within the Minnesota Star Tribune and calling it “the unsuitable choice” in a debate with Flanagan final month.
Flanagan has pounced on Craig for the vote.
“Voting three days into the second Trump administration for Donald Trump’s immigration invoice that allowed him to terrorize our communities, the lack of life, the financial affect, the trauma, it is horrific,” Flanagan stated of Craig’s vote throughout the debate.
Tuesday’s Democratic winner is predicted to face Republican Michelle Tafoya within the common election. Tafoya, a former sports activities broadcaster, is main by a large margin in public polls.
Minnesota will even host a governor’s main on Tuesday, which is able to possible decide who Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., will face within the common election. The Republican subject consists of MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and Minnesota Home member Lisa Demuth.
