OCONOMOWOC – U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is all but certain to win the Republican nomination for governor Aug. 11, says he does not support the idea of Republicans crossing over in the primary to vote for Democratic frontrunner Francesca Hong with the hopes she would be the easiest candidate to beat in November.
“I would recommend they vote on the Republican side,” Tiffany said Aug. 10, one day before voters head to the polls. “If you’re a Republican, I recommend that you vote Republican, because there are plenty of primaries going on around the state that are going to decide the future of Wisconsin.”
“We want the best Republicans possible that are going to be running in this election in 2026,” Tiffany said.
Some conservatives in Wisconsin, including Jessica McBride of Wisconsin Right Now and radio show host Vicki McKenna, have suggested voters without competitive GOP primaries on their ballot should instead vote on the Democratic side. They believe helping deliver Hong, a democratic socialist, the victory would make it easier for Tiffany to campaign against her and improve his chances Nov. 3.
But Wisconsin voters can only select one party’s primary to vote in and cannot cross over to vote in another party’s section. If a Republican voter decides to vote for Hong, they cannot also participate in a Republican primary for Congress – such as the one in Tiffany’s district – or local offices like sheriff, for example.
Former Gov. Scott Walker also rejected the idea, posting on social media Aug. 9: “Crossing over to vote for Francesca Hong is a big risk because she would be VERY dangerous if she was Governor.”
Tiffany’s news conference in Oconomowoc, which featured former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, comes one day before the Aug. 11 primary election for governor. The Democratic primary has four candidates still in the race, but the Republican side is essentially wrapped up.
Tiffany’s only challenger is Andy Manske, who has not held political office before and was polling in the single digits. Tiffany is endorsed by President Donald Trump and backed by the Republican Party of Wisconsin.
In response to a reporter’s question about whether he wants to face Hong in the general election, Tiffany said he is prepared to face whoever emerges on the Democratic side. But he pointed to the Democratic debate, where none of the candidates challenged Hong on her agenda.
“It’s very clear that the leadership of the Democrat Party – and I don’t think this reflects all Democrats across Wisconsin – but certainly amongst the leadership, they have capitulated to the big government socialism that [Hong] is selling,” Tiffany said.
Tiffany focuses on cutting housing regulations, Democrats point to missed votes
Tiffany’s event took place in front of the Olde Highlander homes under construction in Oconomowoc, part of a larger redevelopment project at the site of the former Olympia Resort. New homes at the site range in cost from $405,000 to $570,000.
Tiffany said that as governor he would look to cut housing regulations that drive up the overall cost of a home, including creating a 30-day deadline for new subdivision approvals and incentivizing local governments that speed up permitting processes.
Tiffany said he would also consider redirecting some state housing programs geared at renting instead toward homeownership. He would also review Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code to “eliminate outdated regulations that drive up costs while maintaining strong safety standards.”
“Government has made it too expensive, too complicated and too slow to build homes,” Tiffany said. “We’re going to tackle the mountain of red tape that we see here in Wisconsin.”
Tiffany has faced backlash from Democrats over missing several votes on bipartisan federal legislation aimed at housing, which included provisions like limiting investor purchases of homes and streamlining construction regulations.
A Tiffany campaign spokesperson previously said he was unable to return to Washington, D.C. in time for the votes held on “fly-in days” when members of Congress are arriving in the nation’s capital from their districts, “though he was present for the rest of the week.”
Tiffay said Aug. 10 those “fly-in” votes are typically non-controversial bills and that the housing bill “passed overwhelmingly.”
“I did miss that vote, because I was working back here in Wisconsin,” Tiffany said. “But I support that bill, and I’ve also supported bills that will make sure that we keep ownership amongst families here in Wisconsin, that we reject Wall Street home ownership.”
Emily Stuckey, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, said Aug. 10 that Tiffany “can’t be trusted to deliver on housing for Wisconsin families struggling with the high cost of housing when he had three chances to do exactly what he’s promising and couldn’t even be bothered to show up for the vote.”
“Tiffany is running the MAGA playbook—voting enthusiastically for policies that make life more expensive and going missing when it’s time to bring down costs,” Stuckey said.
Youngkin’s school choice group launches ad against Evers
Youngkin’s appearance in Wisconsin with Tiffany comes as he launches a policy group focused on school choice, a move that could raise his profile ahead of the 2028 presidential election, ABC News reported.
Youngkin left office as Virginia’s governor at the start of 2026. Virginia has unique term limits that prevent a governor from running for a consecutive term.
His group, Empowering America’s Parents, is launching a digital and text advertising campaign pushing Gov. Tony Evers to join a new federal program that would give tax credits to people who donate to organizations that award scholarships for students in private and public schools.
“I think Wisconsin should opt in, and I think that [Tiffany] is very supportive of that,” Youngkin said Aug. 10. “I think his opponent’s going to be very much against it.”
Evers has previously said he would not opt into the program, created under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, calling it “catastrophic” for public schools. In March, Evers vetoed a bill sent to him by Republicans who control the state Legislature that would have forced him to opt into the program.
As of July, 31 states have indicated they would opt into the program, most of which have Republican control of state government, according to Ballotpedia.
In response to a request for comment on the new ad from Youngkin’s group, Evers’ spokeswoman Britt Cudaback said “Glenn Youngkin who?” and referred to the governor’s veto message.
“The federal government is now going to use public funds that should be used for public schools to essentially reimburse donors for helping fund private schools instead. No joke,” Evers wrote in his veto message.
Hope Karnopp can be reached at HKarnopp@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tom Tiffany says Republicans shouldn’t cross over to vote for Hong
Reporting by Hope Karnopp, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Hope Karnopp, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
