Francesca Hong avoids attacks as Wisconsin Democrats meet for an amicable governor debate

The five Democratic candidates for governor in Wisconsin almost entirely refrained from lobbing attacks at one another during their only debate Tuesday night, even as the volatile race enters its final two weeks.

The five Democratic candidates for governor in Wisconsin almost entirely refrained from lobbing attacks at one another during their only debate Tuesday night, even as the volatile race enters its final two weeks.

With early voting underway ahead of the high-stakes Aug. 11 primary — and with a huge chunk of Democratic voters still undecided — no one onstage took a direct swing at polling front-runner Francesca Hong, a state representative from Madison and democratic socialist, despite growing concerns from some in the party about her viability in a general election.

The only tense moment of the hourlong debate came between Hong’s top two rivals for the nomination. Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes jabbed Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley for re-entering the race this month with outgoing Gov. Tony Evers’ endorsement after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez abruptly dropped out.

“It’s been mentioned that the county executive had his campaign resurrected by special interests in a dark room with people with their thumb on the scale,” Barnes said. “Things will always be the same with that sort of leadership. We should be asking for more.”

Crowley didn’t directly respond, but at another moment, he said that “I was actually born into struggle” and that “I’m not here to protect the establishment.”