DSA member leads Dem primary in Midwest battleground but trails likely GOP nominee: poll

Francesca Hong, a Democratic state lawmaker and socialist candidate for Wisconsin governor, speaks to voters at a retirement home July 7, 2026, in Madison, Wis.(Scott Bauer/AP Photo)

Hong, who is backed byWisconsin-basedDSA chapters, has also landed the support of top nationally known progressives, including Reps.Ilhan Omar of neighboring Minnesota and Ro Khanna of California, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender.

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Her platform includes guaranteed paid leave and a one-year moratorium in Wisconsin on building AI data centers.Hong has faced scrutiny over years-old social media posts calling for defunding and abolishing the police.Her campaign says she no longer supports cutting police budgets or abolishing police departments.

In the poll, Wisconsin’s current lieutenant governor, Sara Rodriguez, received 11% support.Rodriguez dropped out of the race last week after the poll was conducted following controversy over her campaign’s mishandling of financial reports.

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When Rodriguez’s supporters’ votes were transferred to their second choice, the poll indicated Hong leading Barnes by a slightly smaller 27% to 18% margin.

THE LEFT-WING FACES OFF AGAINST THE CENTER-LEFT ESTABLISHMENT IN A DEMOCRATIC PARTY CIVIL WAR

Senate candidate Mandela Barnes leaves a canvas launch event Nov.7, 2022, in Glendale, Wis.(Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Two other Democratic candidates, former Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan and state Sen.Kelda Roys, registered in the low single digits.

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After Rodriguez suspended her campaign, former Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley jumped back into the race.Crowley had recently dropped out to back Rodriguez.

Evers, who decided against seeking a third term as Wisconsin governor, quickly backed Crowley, calling him the “best candidate” to defeat Republican Rep.Tom Tiffany in November.

Tiffany is on a path to capture the Republican nomination as he faces off with long-shot medical service technician Andy Manske in the GOP primary.

MEET THE FAR LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE 2026 MIDTERMS

Rep.Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., cheers as Donald Trump is announced as the winner of Wisconsin’s electoral college votes during a joint session of Congress in the House chamber Jan.6, 2025(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The pollindicates Barnesedging Tiffany 44%-40% in a hypothetical general election matchup, with Hong trailing Tiffany 43%-40%.

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The surveywas conducted July 8-16 with 838 Wisconsin registered voters, including 695 likely voters, questioned.

The poll’s overall sampling error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points, with a margin of error of plus or minus 6.1 percentage points for likely Democratic primary voters.