What Happened in the Minnesota and Wisconsin Primaries

Voters in Minnesota and Wisconsin cast their primary ballots on August 11, 2026. A primary is an election where each party picks its candidates for the general election in November. These primaries will decide who appears on the Democratic ticket for the midterms — the elections held halfway through a president's term. The two states have different political histories. Wisconsin is a swing state, meaning it could go to either party in a close race. Minnesota has not backed a Republican for president since 1972. The primaries also overlapped with contests in Alabama, Connecticut, South Carolina and Vermont, per AP's election results project.

In Wisconsin, the Democratic primary for governor drew at least four named candidates: state lawmaker and chef Francesca Hong, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, former nonprofit executive Joel Brennan, and state Senator Kelda Roys, according to Ballotpedia. AP reported five candidates were actively campaigning heading into primary day.

Hong, 37, is a democratic socialist who serves in the Wisconsin state Legislature. She is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America but has not received the group's official endorsement, NPR reported. Her platform includes "Medicare for All," which would create a single government-run health insurance system for everyone. She also supports universal childcare and a moratorium, or temporary ban, on data centers.

Hong led in polls throughout much of the primary campaign, according to NPR and Wisconsin Public Radio. But the race tightened after a bumpy midsummer stretch for Crowley's campaign. Crowley, the first Black man to serve as Milwaukee County Executive, dropped out of the race for governor in July 2026. He reentered days later with the backing of Democratic Governor Tony Evers. His revived campaign raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in July, outpacing Hong's fundraising for the same period.

National Republican groups spent millions on advertising that boosted Hong's profile during the primary. The tactic was widely seen as an effort to help nominate a Democrat Republicans thought would be easier to beat in November. Think of it like rooting for the opposing team's weaker player to advance to the final round. The spending drew scrutiny from Wisconsin Public Radio, which reported on the GOP ad strategy.

The Wisconsin contest came one week after progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated a more moderate Democrat in Michigan's U.S. Senate primary.

The broader context here is a Democratic Party split between its progressive and moderate wings across three neighboring Midwest states in the span of a week. El-Sayed's win in Michigan showed that a progressive candidate can win a competitive primary against an opponent with establishment backing. Hong's bid in Wisconsin offered a parallel test. But her democratic socialist label and the GOP ad spending on her behalf gave moderate Democrats an opening to argue she would struggle in a general election in a state known for razor-thin margins. Crowley's reentry, backed by the sitting governor, positioned him as the establishment alternative.

In Minnesota, the top Democratic contest is the U.S. Senate primary. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are described as the two leading candidates among six Democrats on the ballot, according to Ballotpedia. Craig and Flanagan clashed over electability during the campaign, AP reported. The winner will be the Democratic nominee for an open Senate seat in a state that has leaned Democratic but where the margins have gotten closer in recent elections.

Minnesota's primary election day was Tuesday, August 11, 2026. In-person and mail voting was available from June 26 through August 10, according to the Secretary of State's office. Voter registration for the primary closed July 21. The state's 2026 elections calendar lists dates of February 3, March 10, August 11, and November 3.

The Minnesota DFL — the state's Democratic Party affiliate — endorsed a full slate of candidates ahead of the primary. That included Jake Johnson in Congressional District 1 and Matt Little in Congressional District 2, according to a June 5 party release.

For operatives tracking the November landscape, the results in both states carry down-ballot implications. That means the outcomes could affect other races further down the ticket, such as U.S. House contests. The Minnesota DFL's endorsed slate in competitive House districts signals where the party is putting its resources. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin governor's race will set the terms of engagement in a state that has functioned as the country's most reliable presidential battleground.