A series of primaries held across the Upper Midwest on August 11 resulted in significant victories for the Democratic Party’s progressive wing. In Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tina Smith. Flanagan defeated Rep. Angie Craig in a closely watched contest between progressive and establishment factions within the party. Additionally, Rep. Ilhan Omar secured her primary victory in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, reinforcing her position within the progressive wing of the House.
The most significant remaining contest is in Wisconsin, where Democratic voters are awaiting the results of the primary to determine the party's candidate for governor, succeeding outgoing Gov. Tony Evers. State Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, is vying for the nomination. Hong has received support from notable progressives, including Reps. Omar and Ro Khanna. Her campaign focuses on raising the minimum wage to $20 per hour, guaranteed paid leave, and a moratorium on new AI data centers. Hong has faced scrutiny over past social media posts advocating for police defunding, which she has since distanced herself from. The outcome in Wisconsin will be a critical test for the progressive movement in a key battleground state.