Undecided Voters Play a Key Role in Wisconsin’s Democratic Primary
As the Democratic primary for governor approaches in Wisconsin, many voters remain uncertain about their choice. Clifford Stephens, a retired psychologist from Appleton, exemplifies this indecision as he weighs his options ahead of the August 11 primary.
Initially, Stephens was leaning toward state Rep. Francesca Hong after a Democratic debate, appreciating her passionate responses. However, his perspective shifted after attending a campaign event with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.
At this event, Crowley met with Democratic voters in the Fox Cities and shared the stage with Governor Tony Evers. Crowley engaged with Stephens before addressing the audience, ultimately securing Stephens’ support.
“After seeing David Crowley up close, I changed my opinion,” Stephens stated. “I saw the fire in him, the focus in him, learned a little bit more about his experience, and I will support him now. We need a candidate that can win people over from all across the state.”
Crowley aims to attract more voters like Stephens if he hopes to advance to the general election. According to a recent Marquette University Law School poll, Hong is leading with 38% support, while Crowley trails at 7%. Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who has exited the race, held 16% support.
During the Appleton campaign event, Evers endorsed Crowley, citing his focus on pivotal issues and ability to bridge political divides. “We have to move the state forward, and we’re going to do this with this gentleman right here,” Evers declared. “Bottom line is this: David’s running on his record, and he has expertise to get stuff done.”
Evers criticized Hong for her social media activity, suggesting she was preoccupied with “extraneous issues.” In response, Hong’s campaign spokesperson, Allison Geyer, defended their focus on critical issues affecting working families, such as a moratorium on massive AI data centers and affordable living initiatives.
Crowley, who recently reentered the race, positions himself as a mainstream Democratic alternative to Hong. His campaign emphasizes his experience as Milwaukee County’s executive, specifically highlighting efforts to reduce homelessness and improve municipal funding through bipartisan negotiations.
The campaign’s message resonated with voters like Barb Weyenberg of Appleton, who expressed her support for Crowley. “The issue is can our candidate, our Democratic candidate, work with Republicans? That’s a key issue,” Weyenberg commented. “I know that young people support a more dramatic approach, but I think — as I’ve gotten older — I’ve become more realistic about how we have to be compromising.”
Despite trailing in the polls, Crowley remains optimistic, citing “momentum” and Evers’ endorsement as factors in closing the gap with Hong. He emphasized the importance of electability and building a post-primary coalition to secure victory in the general election.
In a climate of political uncertainty, Crowley stressed the importance of unity within the Democratic party, regardless of the primary outcome. “Our focus shouldn’t be attacking one another, attacking different candidates. Let’s focus on building the coalition come Aug. 12 to do our ultimate goal,” he stated.
