Can a democratic socialist win governor's race in battleground Wisconsin?

Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong is testing the state's purple waters.

Democratic socialists predict another victory for their movement may arrive in an unlikely place: battleground Wisconsin, where state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist running for governor, is testing the state's purple waters.

"Regardless of generation, but especially for young people, they are demanding a different type of politics and a different type of politician," Hong said in an interview with ABC News.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, himself a democratic socialist, endorsed congressional candidates who swep t t he i r pr i m a r i es in June. But some observers caution the country's largest city and the swing state of Wisconsin are worlds apart.

"If a [Democratic Socialists of America] candidate can win in Manhattan, that doesn't mean they can win in Manhattan, Kansas, right?" Charles Franklin, the director of the Marquette Law School Poll, told ABC News.

The stakes are high for Democrats to win in Wisconsin -- a state that President Donald Trump carried in the 2024 presidential election -- as the party is hungry to flip a slate of competitive congressional races and win a state government trifecta of governor, state Assembly and Senate and the state Supreme Court for the first time since 2010.

I n l a t es t sh a k e up o f r a c e, G o v . Evers en d o rses H o ng's o pp o nen t

While reliable public polling has been scant, a s t a t ew i d e p o l l from Marquette in March found Hong pulling a slight lead over top contenders in the Aug. 11 Democratic primary, including former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and current Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, who dropped out of the race on Friday over a campaign finance controversy.

But in another shakeup of the race, Gov. Tony Evers on Saturday endorsed David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive. Crowley officially relaunched his campaign for governor after suspending it just days earlier and endorsing Rodriguez.

The endorsement came as Democrats scramble to coalesce around a candidate ahead of the primary and as some in the party warn Hong would struggle to win a general election in a battleground state.

In an interview with ABC News, Crowley made clear his decision to reenter the race "has nothing to do" with his Democratic opponents but rather defeating "MAGA extremism" and Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, backed by President Donald Trump.

D em o c r a t i c s o c i a l i s t s a ys p o l i c i es a re 'w i l d l y p o pu l a r'

Hong, a 37-year-old service industry worker and single mother, pitches herself as the only candidate who can speak to working-class issues. She told ABC News her messaging often leads with the "[Green Bay] Packers, potholes and public schools."

But nationally, the party appears to be split on the palatability of far-left candidates following a string of wins for the democratic socialists. That divide is especially clear after a sexual assault allegation prompted Graham Platner, embraced by the anti-establishment wing of the Democratic Party, to drop his Senate bid in Maine . Platner has denied the allegation.

But much like Hong may be viewed as too far left, Tiffany, described by Franklin as "the most conservative Republican" in the state's congressional delegation, could also dissuade voters in the moderate lane.

Joe Zepecki, a Democratic strategist, said that while it won't be a "slam dunk" for any of the Democratic candidates, the political headwinds appear to be in their favor as T ru mp 's a ppr o v a l r a t i n g s h a ve sun k .

"Democrats are really feeling the pressure to get this right," Zepecki said.

Democratic socialists hope to ride wave of momentum

The democratic socialist movement appears to be gaining momentum over a decade after Republicans rode the tea party wave.

"We're not funded by millionaires and billionaires in the same way that the tea party movement was, but we are fighting to fundamentally change how this party runs," said Autumn Pickett, co-chair of Milwaukee DSA.

Democratic socialism is not new to Wisconsin. Milwaukee once e l e c t e d t hree S o c i a l i s t P a r t y m a y o rs and t he c o un t ry's f i rs t s o c i a l i s t c o n g ressm a n -- later named the "Sewer Socialists" -- who f o c use d o n i ssues like infrastructure, education and government services.

Hong told ABC News voters are "less concerned about labels and more concerned about the solutions." She would become the first woman and person of color to win the state’s governorship.

Tiffany recently b a sh e d Hong for joining a livestream with the controversial left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker. She has also come under fire for past posts calling to defund and eventually a b o l i sh the police in 2020 during Black Lives Matter protests following the murder of George Floyd.

When asked to clarify her position in an interview with ABC, Hong blamed Republicans for failing to invest in communities and said, "I take public safety seriously."

"I'm willing to work with local leaders, organizers, advocates who are working to build safety in their communities," Hong said. "We cannot be tough on crime if we are not tough on causes."

Some Republicans are betting that Hong could be an easier matchup for the general election this fall -- and are trying to boost her in the final weeks of the primary with Democratic voters.

A political action committee linked to the Republican Governors Association has launched a $2.2 million television ad campaign criticizing Hong as "too liberal."

RGA Communications Director Kollin Crompton slammed Hong for wanting to "make Wisconsin a progressive safe haven where police don’t cooperate with ICE and communities are less safe."

In response, Hong said "no one will outwork me and this campaign and we will continue to surprise folks and defeat Tom Tiffany in a landslide in November."

A B C News' W i l l L enn o n a n d J a re d K o f s k y c o n t r i bu t e d t o t h i s news rep o r t .

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