MADISON, Wis. (AP) 鈥� Early in-person voting begins Tuesday in swing state Wisconsin鈥檚 chaotic Democratic primary for governor, with a trying to overcome the .
Democrats are hoping to retain control of the governor鈥檚 office and flip both chambers of the Legislature to earn for the first time since 2010. But they have failed to coalesce around one candidate for the top job, spurring fears that they could miss an opportunity to win in November.
Early in-person voting begins as Democrats meet for only debate
The five Democratic candidates are scheduled to meet for their only debate Tuesday night ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.
Insurgent democratic socialist Francesca Hong has among the most liberal wing of the party. , who narrowly lost a 2022 U.S. Senate race, is hoping that voters in his hometown of Milwaukee help him overcome Hong, whose base is in Madison. Those two cities hold the largest number of Democratic voters in Wisconsin.
Also in the race is Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who is running with the endorsement of Gov. Tony Evers. Crowley had dropped out of the race on July 8, but on July 17, the day after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez amid a campaign finance scandal.
Both Crowley and Barnes are trying to become Wisconsin’s first Black governor.
The winner of the Democratic primary will advance to take on Republican in November. Tiffany, who is running with the backing of President Donald Trump in a state Trump won in 2016 and 2024, faces only nominal opposition in the primary.
Judge hearing arguments over canceling already-filed absentee ballots
And hours after polls open for early voting, a judge was scheduled to hear arguments in a Democratic lawsuit who already returned their ballots to cancel those and . As of Monday, more than 100,000 ballots had already been returned by mail.
The lawsuit was filed last week with support from the Wisconsin Democratic Party. They are seeking an order from a judge to immediately allow for already-cast ballots to be canceled, a rarely used practice known as ballot spoiling.
Democrats argue it’s necessary given that Rodriguez and former state economic director Missy Hughes ended their campaigns, and Crowley got back in the race, after tens of thousands of ballots had already been returned.
Hughes and Rodriguez鈥檚 names remain on the ballot.
In-person absentee voting, which began Tuesday, runs through Aug. 9. All absentee ballots must be received by the time polls close on election day Aug. 11 in order to be counted.
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Mayes-Osterman is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse 91欧美激情 Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. She reported for this story from Milwaukee.
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