Wisconsin businesses say they 'dodged a bullet,' rejecting high taxes as democratic socialist lost primary

Wisconsin businesses "dodged a bullet" after democratic socialist candidate Francesca Hong lost the Democratic primary to a more moderate candidate, according to the CEO and president of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC).

"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. So from that perspective, we've dodged a bullet in the state of Wisconsin," Kurt Bauer, WMC president and CEO, told Fox News Digital.

Bauers comments came after state Rep. Hong fell short in her bid to capture the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Wisconsin last month.

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The primary was closely watched as a high-stakes test of whether battleground Democrats favored the party's progressive wing or its establishment ahead of November's general election.

Hong, a state lawmaker from Madison and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), was defeated by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who topped her by a razor-thin margin after polling had shown her with a significant lead.

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Crowley was backed by retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, with both warning that nominating Hong could jeopardize Democratic control of the governor's mansion in November.

Hong's positions and efforts to backtrack from past statements — including previous calls to abolish the U.S. Senate and criticizing Thanksgiving — became issues during the campaign in Wisconsin, a perennial swing state.

"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 told Fox News Digital.

WMC conducts a biannual survey of 200 business leaders to gauge how small businesses are impacted by state policies.

According to the Winter 2026 survey, business owners in Wisconsin expressed concern over the state's trajectory. WMC reported that 71% of businesses saw an increase in the property tax bill for their owned or leased commercial property over the past year, while just 1% saw a decrease.

According to WMCs report, nearly half of survey respondents said that President Donald Trump's tariffs had a negative impact on their business, while 12% reported a positive impact.

"Overall, Wisconsin employers seem to be lukewarm," Bauer concluded. "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."

In response to Bauers comments, Crowleys campaign sent Fo