Wisconsin’s business community breathed a sigh of relief after state Rep. Francesca Hong, a self-identified democratic socialist, lost the Democratic governor primary to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a result business leaders say spared the state from economically damaging tax hikes.
Primary day in Wisconsin brought more than just a shakeup within the Democratic Party. On August 11, 2026, Milwaukee County’s David Crowley secured the Democratic nomination for governor, defeating Rep. Francesca Hong, a Madison progressive and member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Crowley will now face Republican nominee Rep. Tom Tiffany in November. The outcome landed with force among Wisconsin’s business owners, many of whom openly worried about the impact of Hong’s far-left platform on taxes, jobs, and the state’s economic climate.
Francesca Hong’s defeat came after warnings from outgoing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who had urged his party not to risk the governor’s mansion by nominating a candidate with hard-left economic views. According to Fox News Digital’s reporting, several business leaders and trade group officials saw the result as a much-needed course correction for a state already struggling with rising costs and competitiveness.
“My flip answer would be to open up a history book and learn how socialism has failed everywhere it's been tried, and it would fail here in Wisconsin as well,” said Kurt Bauer, president and CEO of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. “So, from that perspective, we've dodged a bullet in the state of Wisconsin.” Bauer’s remarks echoed a broader sentiment among business owners, who cited property tax hikes and regulatory burdens as top concerns if a candidate like Hong were to win.
Dane Leceski, a small business owner and former political consultant, put it bluntly: “I do believe that Wisconsin really dodged a bullet when it came to David Crowley winning over Francesca Hong.” For business owners like Gregg McKarns, who operates Madison International Speedway on 50 acres of land, the prospect of higher property taxes rattled nerves. “While we have it good here in Wisconsin, we’d like to keep it that way. Just hearing about property tax increases, it's concerning because we’re on 50 acres. We have a lot of land here, and we need a lot of land to run our business,” McKarns explained.
While Crowley’s victory may have eased immediate fears of a socialist takeover, Wisconsin’s business community isn’t celebrating just yet. Bauer cautioned that, despite Hong’s loss, the new Democratic nominee’s platform still poses economic risks. “The person who won the primary said himself that he basically has the same policy that she has. So, he might be a little bit better on some of the issues, but he still represents, I think, a concern for the business community on taxes, on healthcare and some of the other major issues that they care about,” Bauer said.
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, which surveys 200 business leaders twice a year, found in its winter 2026 survey that 71% reported increased property-tax bills for owned or leased commercial property over the previous year, while only 1% saw a decrease. The same survey showed businesses remain frustrated by high healthcare costs and a persistent shortage of capable employees. “Overall, Wisconsin employers seem to be lukewarm,” Bauer said. “Although we see hints of optimism like increased hiring and a relatively good outlook for the U.S. economy, businesses are still frustrated with high healthcare costs and finding capable employees.”
Concerns about the leftward drift of Democrats aren’t isolated to Wisconsin. Across the country, the party’s establishment has clashed with its socialist wing, as seen when Wesley Bell defeated Cori Bush in Missouri’s Democratic primary, and as reported in our coverage of the Missouri race.
With the general election looming, Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany is positioning himself as the candidate of growth and lower taxes. Drawing on his nearly two decades running a seasonal dinner boat and excursion business, Tiffany said, “Before we ever took home a dollar, we had employees counting on us, fuel to buy and a boat and equipment to maintain and improve. We paid all taxes owed in full and on time, and running that business is one of the reasons I got involved in public service.” Tiffany emphasized that real-world business experience is critical to understanding the challenges employers face.
He accused Crowley of raising property and sales taxes in Milwaukee County and warned that exporting those policies statewide would make Wisconsin less competitive. “We already ranked 40th in job creation from 2018 to 2025, and some rankings put us in the bottom 10 states to start a new business,” Tiffany said, though the exact sources of these rankings were not identified. Looking ahead, he pledged, “As governor, I will lower taxes, cut unnecessary red tape and make Wisconsin a place where employers have every reason to invest and create jobs.”
Endorsements have followed Tiffany’s pro-business pitch. SEMA’s SuperPAC, Driving Force Action, backed him ahead of the primary. “We wanted to make sure that Tom Tiffany was that clear endorsement ahead of the primary because we felt like he was the clear choice to support Wisconsin’s business economy and had real concern if Francesca Hong was elected,” said Lauren Wilbor, the group’s spokesperson. She described the PAC as the political voice for business owners, builders, racers, manufacturers, and enthusiasts who drive the $337 billion U.S. automotive aftermarket industry.
This pattern of Democratic primary defeats for socialist-leaning candidates, paired with unions and business groups backing more moderate or pro-business figures, matches recent trends in other states, such as when the Democratic establishment pushed back against Francesca Hong, as detailed in our recent analysis of Wisconsin’s primary.
The Crowley campaign, for its part, has tried to position the candidate as a builder of consensus who can attract business and balance the budget. “Under David Crowley’s leadership, major corporations have brought their business and thousands of jobs to Milwaukee County. As governor, he’ll work with members of both parties to balance the budget and create good-paying, family-supporting jobs, just as he’s done as county executive,” a Crowley campaign spokesperson said. The campaign has highlighted Crowley’s work securing grants, delivering surpluses, expanding affordable housing, and passing property tax cuts in Milwaukee County.
Crowley’s team also went on offense, attacking Tiffany’s record on tariffs and taxes. They accused the Republican nominee of supporting what they called “Donald Trump’s tariffs that are crushing Wisconsin’s manufacturers and farmers,” and alleged that Tiffany “went years without paying his own taxes.” Tiffany flatly denied any tax delinquency, stating he “paid all taxes owed in full and on time.” The campaign also charged that Tiffany’s economic agenda would “give tax breaks to big tech billionaires by slashing healthcare funding.” These claims set the stage for a November contest likely to focus as much on economic vision as on personal credibility.
Similar tensions have erupted in other Democratic primaries, as when DSA-backed candidates have clashed with established party figures, such as in the New York and Florida Senate races covered in New York and Florida.
Despite the campaign rhetoric, the business community’s top priorities remain stable taxes, fewer regulations, and a workforce ready to meet employers’ needs. Crowley’s office points to Milwaukee County’s $4.4 billion in tourism economic impact and an $8 million federal grant for redeveloping Mitchell International Airport’s terminal, which is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs. His “Building Bridges” program offers $10,000 grants and technical support to small businesses. But business leaders are watching closely to see whether these programs truly offset the higher taxes and costs they fear from Democratic governance.
Wisconsin’s broader business climate remains a sticking point. Tiffany and his supporters argue that only a dramatic shift toward lower taxes and less red tape will move the state out of its lagging job-creation and startup rankings. Meanwhile, organizations like Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce say they will focus on educating their members about the candidates’ records, even if they do not make formal endorsements.
Nationally, the rising tension between the progressive and establishment wings of the Democratic Party has even led to prominent figures like AOC and Bernie Sanders declining to support certain socialist candidates, as analyzed in our reporting on the Wisconsin race.
For now, most Wisconsin business owners and trade groups are simply glad the state rejected a candidate openly pushing socialist economics. “We have worked with Congressman Tom Tiffany from his days in the state legislature. We know him very well. We know what he stands for. He's been very pro-business. He's an ally of the business community. He wants investment into the state, and he understands that, in order to do so, you have to have the right business climate,” Bauer said.
When voters demand common sense over ideology, businesses and working families have a fighting chance to thrive.
