{"text":[[{"start":8.28,"text":"A moderate candidate unexpectedly defeated a democratic socialist in a tight race to become Wisconsin Democrats’ pick for governor, in a setback to the party’s leftwing insurgency."}],[{"start":19.04,"text":"Milwaukee County executive David Crowley narrowly defeated leftwing candidate Francesca Hong in a tight vote, according to a projection by the Associated Press."}],[{"start":28.56,"text":"The result is a boost to the Democratic establishment, which had been skittish that Hong’s positions — including abolishing the police and getting rid of prisons — were too far left and would alienate the general electorate."}],[{"start":41.08,"text":"Hong had attracted criticism for social media posts including one linking Thanksgiving to “celebrating colonialism”, but had still been expected to capitalise on a recent wave of support for leftwing Democratic candidates."}],[{"start":54.44,"text":"A Marquette University poll conducted last month gave Hong a 22-point lead over a crowded field of Democratic opponents."}],[{"start":62.4,"text":"Wisconsin has long been seen as a battleground state. Donald Trump won the state over Kamala Harris in 2024 by a razor-thin margin of fewer than 30,000 votes."}],[{"start":72.68,"text":"Crowley will face off in November against Republican congressman Tom Tiffany, who has been endorsed by President Trump."}],[{"start":79.36,"text":"Hong’s defeat followed a string of victories for progressive candidates in Democratic primary elections ahead of November’s critical midterm elections, when control of Congress will be up for grabs."}],[{"start":91.48,"text":"Last week, progressive former public health official Abdul El-Sayed defeated centrist four-term congresswoman Haley Stevens to become the Democratic candidate for US Senate in neighbouring Michigan."}],[{"start":102.92,"text":"But while El-Sayed — who does not identify as a democratic socialist — enjoyed the backing of progressive stars including Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Hong has not been endorsed by either lawmaker."}],[{"start":118.56,"text":"Hong’s comments on Thanksgiving had arguably attracted the most attention, especially after she struggled to answer a CNN interviewer’s question last month over whether she still wanted to cancel the holiday."}],[{"start":130.06,"text":"Days later, she told Politico that Thanksgiving was her “favourite holiday”, adding: “I don’t want to cancel it, I actually love it.”"}],[{"start":137.92,"text":"Ocasio-Cortez at the weekend declined to endorse Hong, telling ABC News that her “focus” is on “winning back the Congress”."}],[{"start":144.8,"text":"In a social media post last week, veteran Democratic strategist David Axelrod — the architect of Barack Obama’s two winning presidential campaigns — called Hong a “font of zany liberal, faculty lounge exotica”."}],[{"start":158.24,"text":"Hong hit back, calling Axelrod’s post the “perfect example of why the consultant class keeps losing elections”, adding: “They’re totally clueless, and they’re hell-bent on keeping working-class people out of politics.”"}],[{"start":176.8,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1786525146_6535.mp3"}