Socialists' triumphant march ends in Wisconsin as Hong loses governor primary

Francesca Hong, a former dishwasher and restaurant owner, was poised to become Wisconsin's first socialist governor. However, her bid for the Democratic nomination in the upcoming gubernatorial election was thwarted when she narrowly lost to David Crowley, a more centrist Democrat, by about 3,200 votes.

Hong's campaign had gained traction, particularly among younger voters, tapping into widespread discontent over the proliferation of AI industry data centers in Wisconsin. Supporters hoped she would usher in an era of generous social services funded by taxes on high-income earners, transforming the state into a socialist laboratory.

The "commie corridor" in New York, represented by figures like Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, had inspired similar aspirations in the American heartland. While the far-left celebrated victories in Michigan, where Abdul El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination for the Senate, Wisconsin's outcome represented a significant setback for the movement.