For Democrats and others on the left who understand the importance of keeping Tom Tiffany out of the governor’s office, David Crowley’s weakness on data centers is frustrating and baffling. If over 50% of donations since he reentered the field are from groups who want to see data center construction, that may explain why he hasn’t taken a stronger stance.

There is very little about Crowley’s campaign that will inspire Hong’s people to volunteer or donate, which is what it takes to actually win an election. His patchy decrepit astroturf ground game is going to be on its own. That’s why I’m afraid he might lose.

WES‌ would like to invite Mr. Crowley and his campaign to consider the stances that gained the Hong campaign its support and move his platform towards the values that have proven to be central to the goals of the very Wisconsinites Mr. Crowley is working to represent as he approaches the general election against Tom Tiffany. 

Democrat Party approval ratings cratered before socialist candidates injected some enthusiasm and raised the numbers. They have yet to internalize that triangulation doesn’t work, and there is no version of being a moderate that will win over Republicans.

Thoroughly and precisely calculating thousands of nomination signatures and pages is beyond the scope of my attention to detail, but I did scroll through a handful of candidates of interest and can share some interesting takeaways.

Of these few races, Stacy Smiter’s challenge to Felesia Martin in District 7 feels the most likely to impact the political balance on the board, especially around key budget issues, which is the most important part of the County Board’s work.

If every Wisconsin donor was a voter in the party primary, Francesca Hong won nearly half (49.5%) of them! She also has Tom Tiffany beat single handedly, and all Democrats combined are whooping the Republicans combined.  

Stripping affordability from criticism of capitalism and inequality is how centrists will try and steal fire from left populists, and flatten the clear differences between candidates. In the process, they render political discourse meaningless.

As in 2018, the humanitarian crisis in Wisconsin prisons could play a big part in Wisconsin’s 2026 governor and legislative races. It should be easy to create a strong contrast with the absurd and inhumane Republican position, but Democratic candidates will have to distance themselves from eight disastrous years of Democratic control of the DOC under Tony Evers.