A week after progressives scored a victory in Michigan's US Senate primary, Democrats are facing another test in the Upper Midwestern state of Wisconsin. Voters head to the polls on Tuesday in a primary that will shape races for governor and all eight US House seats, as well as state legislative contests.

The biggest spotlight is on the Democratic gubernatorial race, which has become a proxy battle between the party's progressive wing and its more moderate establishment. State Representative Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist and former restaurant worker, is running on a platform of free childcare, student debt cancellation, and abolishing ICE. She has also been endorsed by progressive figures like Ilhan Omar and has described Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide.

Her main opponent, David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, re-entered the race after being endorsed by outgoing Governor Tony Evers. Crowley, who would be Wisconsin's first Black governor, insists he is not an establishment candidate and focuses on undecided voters. A Marquette University Law School poll shows Hong with a significant lead.

The race has been chaotic, with several candidates dropping out, including former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, whose name remains on the ballot. Over 128,000 absentee ballots have already been cast, and a judge rejected a lawsuit to invalidate them. This has raised concerns about voter confusion and the integrity of the process.

The outcome will be closely watched as an indicator of whether progressive candidates can succeed in battleground states, especially after Donald Trump won Wisconsin in 2024. The winner will face Republican Tom Tiffany, who is already framing the race as a choice between a "socialist agenda" and "common sense." Polls are open from 7am to 8pm local time.

Source: www.aljazeera.com