Francesca Hong’s Wisconsin primary bid is under scrutiny as old posts on policing, ICE, Thanksgiving and taxes resurface.
Francesca Hong’s Wisconsin primary campaign is drawing fresh scrutiny as the state representative tries to move past a trail of hard-left statements on policing, immigration, holidays and taxes. Hong, who is backed by several Democratic Socialists of America chapters, is the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for governor in Wisconsin and leads Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley by double digits in most polls, according to the RealClearPolitics aggregator.
The Wisconsin governor race has become the latest test of whether a self-described democratic socialist can win a major statewide contest. Hong’s rise comes as the Democratic Socialists of America has racked up recent wins in federal, statewide and local races, including the election of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and primary victories by DSA-aligned candidates in New York, Maine and Colorado. Michigan Senate Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, while not DSA-backed, also won with praise from Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Hong’s old comments have now become a central part of the political fight. In an Aug. 24, 2020 post on Twitter, now X, she wrote that she supported “defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police.” At the time, she was running for her first term in the Wisconsin state assembly and reacting to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha. Later that year, on Oct. 8, she posted that police “exist to uphold white supremacy” and called to “Defund then abolish.”
Hong has since distanced herself from those positions. On a recent episode of “Pod Save America,” she said, “My views have only become stronger in that I’m serious about public safety and I will not abolish the police.” She also said she wants to focus on violent crime, basic needs and giving law enforcement the resources and training it needs, while still holding officers accountable when they do not follow the law. She added that, after more conversations with people directly connected to the problems, she had learned that public servants need “sensible, practical solutions” to keep communities safe.
“Francesca Hong’s Wisconsin primary bid is under scrutiny as old posts on policing, ICE, Thanksgiving and taxes resurface.”
Immigration has also remained part of the controversy. Earlier this year, Hong said during a panel with Main Street Alliance Action Fund that “Abolishing ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] is a meaningful policy if we want to keep each other safe.” She has not walked back that view as her campaign has climbed in the polls, and the remarks came after officer-involved shootings involving ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers in Minneapolis that left US citizens shot.
Even Thanksgiving has become part of Hong’s political baggage. In November 2020, she urged people not to gather for what she called a “colonizer holiday,” instead pushing mask use, physical distancing and support for local restaurants and neighbors. More recently, she told Politico, “I don’t want to cancel it,” and said, “I actually love it.” Hong, a former chef, had also criticized Valentine’s Day in 2022 as a holiday shaped by capitalism and by people who fail to recognize the labor of service work.
Her economic platform has drawn notice as well. Earlier this year, Hong floated a plan to sharply raise taxes on the wealthiest Wisconsinites by adding a new income tax bracket. The proposal would have taxed individuals making at least $750,000 and married couples making $1 million at 17.3%, more than double Wisconsin’s current top rate for high earners. The measure failed in March, and the extra revenue would have gone to school funding. By late July, during a candidates’ debate, Hong had shifted to support an 8.65% income tax rate on millionaires instead.
Clinton’s recent warning that Republican attacks on “communist, socialist” candidates could prove effective in the 2026 midterms has added to the political backdrop around Hong’s race. With the Wisconsin primary approaching Tuesday and the general election set for Nov. 3, the contest is shaping up as an early referendum on how far left a Democrat can go and still hold statewide appeal. For Wisconsin voters, Hong’s campaign is a test of whether progressive energy can outweigh the political cost of her past remarks and policy positions.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Francesca Hong facing criticism in the Wisconsin governor race?
Old social media posts and public remarks on police, ICE, Thanksgiving and taxes have resurfaced. Critics say the comments could hurt her in the primary and general election.
What did Hong say about policing?
In 2020, she posted that she supported defunding the police as a first step toward abolishing them. She later said she would not abolish the police and wants practical public-safety solutions.
How has Hong’s view on Thanksgiving changed?
She previously called Thanksgiving a colonizer holiday and urged people not to gather for it. More recently, she told Politico that she does not want to cancel it and said she loves it.
What happened to Hong’s tax proposal?
She proposed creating a new tax bracket that would raise rates to 17.3% for top earners, with the money aimed at school funding. The measure failed in March, and she later backed a lower 8.65% rate on millionaires.
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