Democratic voters in Wisconsin and Minnesota went to the polls Tuesday in a set of primaries watched as a measure of the party's direction, pitting its establishment against its progressive and democratic socialist wings.

In Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley won the Democratic primary for governor, defeating state Representative Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist backed by the Democratic Socialists of America. The outcome ran counter to pre-election polling that had suggested a closer or different result. Crowley, who had the backing of the state's outgoing governor, won by a narrow margin.

In a statement after his victory, Crowley said he would work to earn the support of progressives who had backed Hong, emphasizing a message of party unity. Hong ran on affordability and other economic themes that had drawn enthusiasm from her supporters. Some progressives expressed relief at the outcome, citing concerns about electability in a general election.

Minnesota produced its own set of firsts. Senator Amy Klobuchar won the Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary for governor, becoming the first woman to lead a major-party ticket for governor in the state, as Governor Tim Walz did not seek reelection to that office. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan won the DFL primary for U.S. Senate, defeating Representative Angie Craig. In the race to succeed Craig in the House, progressive Matt Little won the Democratic primary.

On the Republican side in Minnesota, House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the party's nomination for governor, defeating Mike Lindell, the MyPillow founder who had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Lindell declined to concede the race. His loss was among several defeats for Trump-endorsed candidates across the states voting Tuesday.

The night carried consequences beyond the two states. In Connecticut, Representative John Larson, a 78-year-old Democrat who had served in Congress for more than two decades, lost his primary, a result that contributed to a record year for Democratic incumbent primary losses. In South Carolina, Republicans Darline Graham and Ralph Norman advanced to a runoff in the U.S. Senate primary. In a Wisconsin House race, Michael Alfonso, the son-in-law of former Representative Sean Duffy and backed by Trump, won his Republican primary.

Across the states, Trump's endorsements produced a mixed record, with several of his chosen candidates falling short.

References

1. 1.Politico — progressive concerns about electability in the Wisconsin race
2. 2.CNN — coverage of the Wisconsin governor primary outcome
3. 3.HuffPost — Lindell declining to concede the Minnesota governor primary
4. 4.Axios — record year for Democratic incumbent primary losses, including Larson's defeat