>> It was just over a year ago that Governor Tony
Evers announced he would not seek a third term in
office. The number of candidates seeking to
replace him as the Democratic nominee for
governor eventually surged to seven. But today there
are just four left, and after Tuesday night, the
party will seek to unite behind the winner against
the Republican nominee, Tom Tiffany.
>> You know, I think right now we are truly in a
movement moment. >> On a Wednesday night in
July. There's a packed house at the headquarters
of the Democratic Party of Ozaukee County. It's
standing room only to hear from Francesca Hong, the
frontrunner in the Democratic primary for
governor. >> I may not be the most
polished candidate. I know that there are questions
about executive experience and leadership.
>> A democratic socialist, Hong has served three terms
in the state Assembly. Not the typical resume for a
gubernatorial candidate. >> I would say one of the
most powerful messages that I carry with me in knowing
that maybe this is time for a leader like me.
>> Hong has consistently polled well ahead of the
rest of the field, and her political movement is built
on bringing new people into the voting booth.
>> It's imperative that we grow a coalition and the
electorate for Democrats to win power and maintain
power. We have to make sure that our coalition is
multigenerational, multi-faith and with
representing zip codes from all across the state. It's
exciting to hear folks have their plan to vote, and
it's their first time to vote.
>> Democracy can be messy, and.
>> David Crowley is now polling second. Just a few
weeks after he was out of the race altogether. He
dropped out in early July and endorsed Sara Rodriguez,
but then got back in after her campaign blew up a week
later, this time with the endorsement of Tony Evers.
The in and out maneuver is not recommended for
candidates, but Crowley probably got more attention
than if he was in the race the whole time.
>> Hindsight is always 2020, right? And so, you know,
trying to, you know, wonder what would have happened or
how things would have unfolded if I was in this
race. We don't know. I can't look into a crystal
ball, but we did see a resurgence of energy. I
mean, I think we had more people at our relaunch
party that was at our launch party.
>> Campaigns change in very short order.
>> Joel Brennan and Kelda Roys are the last two
Democrats in the race. They have consistently pulled in
the low single digits and share the idea that if more
people knew their names, they'd have more support.
>> My challenge from the beginning has been that I
am just not as well known as other candidates, not as
well known in some parts of the state. I think when
people have seen and heard from me, they understand my
experience, the work that I've done, the vision that
I have, like I win over lots of those people.
>> We need a candidate at the top of the ticket who
will not only beat Tom Tiffany, but help us
deliver a Democratic Assembly and Senate. And
most importantly, we need somebody who's actually
capable of doing the job of governing.
>> Are we going to stop big government socialism right
here in Wisconsin? Yeah. >> Waiting on the other
side of the primary is Tom Tiffany, a congressman from
northern Wisconsin who is largely unopposed in the
Republican primary. >> My mom quilts.
[MUSIC] >> I've been a dam tender,
a boat captain and a girl dad with perfect attendance
at 20 nutcrackers. [MUSIC]
>> Tiffany's record in Congress and the Wisconsin
legislature before that shows he's a far right
conservative, but he's spent millions introducing
himself to the state as a folksy everyman.
>> Tom, you know mom's gonna hold you to it.
[MUSIC] >> I wouldn't have it any
other way. Yeah. I mean, it was one of the goals from
the start was to make sure that people got to meet me
on my own terms. >> Democrats have spent
their millions on their own ads, but aren't worried.
Tiffany has gained too much of an advantage.
>> Tom Tiffany has been the frontrunner presumptive
nominee for months. To still be doing intro ads is
a little bit embarrassing. >> Listen, I like old
Fashioneds. I've got four daughters and a son. I like
going to The Nutcracker with them. That is not what
qualifies me to be governor. >> We don't have to
redefine. We just have to make sure that people know
who he is. Always been. And like my grandma used to say,
you know, when someone shows you who they are the
first time, you have to believe them.
>> Whoever wins this primary is going to come
out with wind at our back with momentum, and then
we'll be the time where Tom Tiffany can't just look
over his shoulder and talk about his mother. He's
going to have to look over his shoulder and talk about
Donald Trump. >> After the primary,
Tiffany's ads will have an opponent to attack by name.
And for his part, he says he's not worried about
which Democrat he faces. >> There really isn't a
dime's worth of difference between the candidates. I
mean, they're very similar, and whoever comes out of
the primary is going to be advocating for the same