Wisconsin State Representative Francesca Hong leads the Democratic primary for governor with 38 percent support, according to a Marquette Law School poll. She holds a double-digit advantage over her nearest rival, Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, who trails with 16 percent support.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley follows in third place with 7 percent support. A significant portion of the electorate remains uncommitted, with 34 percent of Democratic primary voters stating they are still undecided. The survey included 407 Democratic primary voters and carries a margin of error of 6.6 percentage points.
Hong’s support has risen sharply in recent weeks. One week prior to this survey, she held 26 percent support.
'The governor cannot defund police, and I am not here to govern by slogan,' Hong said. Her campaign platform, which supports noncarceral crime-prevention programs, reentry services, red flag laws, universal background checks, and safe-storage requirements, does not call for eliminating police or cutting their funding.
All five Democratic candidates in the race have stated they would not sign a state budget that cuts police funding. Despite this consensus, Hong’s rise has unsettled some Democrats who are concerned about the general election contest against expected Republican nominee Representative Tom Tiffany.
Republican advertising strategy
The Republican Governors Association has spent nearly $3.6 million on advertisements labeling Hong as dangerously liberal. Former Wisconsin Department of Administration secretary Joel Brennan said the ads were intended to elevate Hong, describing her as a candidate they believe they can defeat due to her extreme positions.
Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki criticized the spending, calling the ads 'a sneaky, underhanded, blatant attempt to meddle in the democratic process.'