Wisconsin Democratic Candidate Francesca Hong Faces Scrutiny Over Past Social Media Posts

2026-08-06

The BareStory

Wisconsin State Representative Francesca Hong, a candidate in the state's upcoming Democratic gubernatorial primary, has clarified her stance on law enforcement following criticism of past social media posts. Hong, a democratic socialist, stated in a recent podcast interview that she does not support abolishing the police, marking a shift from her 2020 online posts advocating for defunding law enforcement. Hong stated that her perspective evolved after holding conversations with community members and families affected by police violence.

Alongside her shifting positions on policing, Hong has faced scrutiny over other past online statements, including a 2020 post calling to cancel Thanksgiving due to its colonial history. Republican Representative Tom Tiffany accused Hong of wanting to destroy unifying traditions. In response, Hong defended her background as a chef who has prepared community Thanksgiving meals, and she later described Thanksgiving as her favorite holiday. Critics have also pointed to other past posts, including a 2019 comment describing an anxiety attack at a restaurant due to the presence of white people, and various posts criticizing other holidays.

The primary race pits Hong against Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who has been endorsed by Governor Tony Evers. A spokesperson for Evers stated that the governor endorsed Crowley to avoid an election focused on extreme online statements. Meanwhile, Hong's supporters have defended her, with supporter Chris Vestin arguing that concerns about her electability are counterproductive and rooted in racism and sexism. Hong, who recently led a late July poll, held a campaign rally on August 2 in Milwaukee alongside Representative Ilhan Omar and political commentator Hasan Piker.

Left Perspective

Pivoting for Systemic Evolution
Dismantling Harmful Cultural Myths
Defying Status Quo Gatekeeping

Right Perspective

Preserving Foundational Social Cohesion
Upholding Institutional Rule of Law
Mitigating Extremist Rhetorical Risks

Left Perspective

• Pivoting for Systemic Evolution Prioritizing lived experience and community feedback is essential for reforming flawed public institutions. Adjusting one's stance on policing from 2020 defunding rhetoric to a nuanced reform position after consulting families affected by police violence demonstrates responsive leadership rather than political inconsistency. Genuine structural progress requires leaders who listen to marginalized groups and refine policy to balance public safety with civil liberties.

• Dismantling Harmful Cultural Myths Questioning mainstream cultural traditions is a necessary step to acknowledge colonial harms and elevate historical truth. Pointing out the colonial origins of holidays aligns with the goal of social progress and accountability, which does not preclude participating in community-building, as demonstrated by preparing holiday meals for the public. Deconstructing exclusionary historical narratives is a prerequisite for building a truly inclusive and equitable society.

• Defying Status Quo Gatekeeping Establishment efforts to sideline progressive candidates under the guise of "electability" serve to protect existing power structures from transformative change. Criticisms regarding past online statements are often weaponized by centrist and conservative actors to distract from a popular policy platform, which currently leads in public polling. Relying on establishment endorsements like Governor Evers' backing of David Crowley represents a defensive maneuver to suppress authentic grassroots momentum and progressive systemic critiques.

Right Perspective

• Preserving Foundational Social Cohesion Preserving established cultural traditions and shared national holidays is vital for maintaining civic unity and a cohesive social order. Attacking bedrock cultural institutions like Thanksgiving as colonialist alienates the broader public and erodes the civic fabric that binds a diverse citizenry together. Leaders must champion unifying symbols and practices rather than cultivating division or validating grievances that undermine patriotic duty and social stability.

• Upholding Institutional Rule of Law Ensuring public safety requires unwavering support for law enforcement agencies that maintain civil order and protect communities. Walking back previous calls to defund the police represents a tactical, politically motivated retreat rather than a principled commitment to the rule of law. A stable society depends on reliable, consistent backing for security institutions, and treating policing policy as an ideological testing ground threatens to destabilize neighborhoods.

• Mitigating Extremist Rhetorical Risks Public officials must possess the temperament and judgment required to represent the entire electorate, free from polarizing and exclusionary rhetoric. Past statements expressing anxiety in public spaces based on racial demographics or calling to cancel national holidays reveal a divisive worldview incompatible with broad-based, stable governance. Aligning with polarizing national figures like Representative Ilhan Omar and commentator Hasan Piker at rallies reinforces concerns that such candidacies prioritize ideological performance over practical public service.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• Voters will have to weigh whether a candidate's shift from advocating to defund law enforcement to a reform-based position represents responsive leadership or a politically motivated retreat.

• The public may see campaign debates increasingly focus on candidates' past social media statements, potentially overshadowing discussions on current policy platforms.

• Depending on the election's outcome, citizens could experience either a push toward reforming public safety institutions or a reinforcement of traditional support for law enforcement to maintain civil order.

• Communities may see continued public debate over the value of national holidays, with some advocating to address colonial histories and others seeking to preserve these traditions for social unity.

Wisconsin Democratic Candidate Francesca Hong Faces Scrutiny Over Past Social Media Posts

The BareStory

Left Perspective

Right Perspective

How it may affect me

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