Conservatives – and even some Democrats – hope the Wisconsin primary results are the writing on the wall for democratic socialism’s role in purple states. That framing ignores a lot of the nuance within the race.

On Aug. 12, it was announced that Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a moderate, had defeated Wisconsin Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, in the Democratic primary for governor. As he accepted his nomination, Crowley called for unity within the party the day of his win, urging Democrats to remember that defeating the Republican nominee should be the primary focus.

“From the very first day I announced this campaign, I said the real threat wasn’t any of my primary opponents,” Crowley said. “The real opponent has always been Tom Tiffany.”

Hong’s loss is not the death knell for the progressive movement that some want it to be, nor is Crowley’s nomination the Democrats settling for the same old playbook. The Wisconsin primary results are simply a reminder that all politics is local politics, and a reminder to Democrats that they must put aside their differences and focus on defeating the true opponents and the actual extreme politics that have taken over Republicans.

Why did Francesca Hong lose the Wisconsin........

© USA TODAY