Marquette poll taken during campaign upheaval finds Hong leading Democratic primary

Democratic Wisconsin governor candidate State Rep. Francesca Hong speaks at Skyline Park in Ashwaubenon, September 25, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online

(WTAQ-WLUK) — State Rep. Francesca Hong is leading the Democratic primary for governor in the latest Marquette University Law School Poll, but the data comes with a big grain of salt.

The poll showed Hong with 26% of Democratic voters, leading the five-person primary field. However, the poll was being conducted from July 8-16. During that time, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez fired her campaign manager over alleged financial mismanagement. One day after the poll ended, she dropped out of the race.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who ended his campaign on the first day of polling, re-entered the race with the endorsement of Gov. Tony Evers after the poll ended.

Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes came in second in the Marquette poll at 15%, followed by Rodriguez at 11%. Former Evers administration official Joel Brennan polled at 2% and State Sen. Kelda Roys at 1%.

Voters were asked about their second choice, and when adding in Rodriguez supporters, Hong was at 27%, Barnes 18%, Brennan 5% and Roys 1%.

Forty-five precent of Democratic voters in the poll said they were undecided.

The winner of the Aug. 11 primary will face presumptive Republican nominee U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in the November general election. Republican voters backed Tiffany at 67%, with primary challenger Andy Manske at 2%.

In head-to-head matchups among likely voters, only Barnes beat Tiffany, 47%-42%. All other matchups were within the margin of error. Hong tied Tiffany at 44%. Tiffany beat Brennan 44%-43% and Roys 44%-42%.

The poll also asked about democratic socialists, a political movement Hong aligns with. The organization Democratic Socialists of America had 25% favorable and 43% unfavorable ratings. The broad term “democratic socialists” also had 25% favorability, with 55% of voters having an unfavorable opinion.