Wisconsin Democratic Socialist Governor Candidate’s Past Social Media Posts Draw Scrutiny

A Democratic Socialist running for Wisconsin governor has come under fire for a series of social media posts spanning several years that critics say reveal deeply held views critical of America and its institutions. State Rep. Francesca Hong, a candidate in the Democratic Party’s primary race for the governorship, wrote on social media in January 2022 that she wanted America to transform from “an abundance of suffering” into “a wealth of opportunity,” framing the shift as dependent on electing more Black and Brown candidates who would challenge what she termed “racist obstructionists.”

Hong’s controversial online history extends well beyond that statement. In a now-deleted post, she called for “Cancel Thanksgiving,” characterizing the holiday as celebrating colonialism and “the original superspreader event that killed indigenous folx,” a reference to diseases like smallpox introduced to indigenous populations. The Democratic Socialists of America member also drew criticism for comments made in 2019 in which she expressed anxiety around white people, citing an incident at a restaurant where she felt uncomfortable due to the racial composition of other patrons.

Following the 2021 decision not to prosecute officers involved in the August 2020 shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Hong called for police abolition rather than reform. “Police exist to uphold White supremacy. Defund then abolish,” she stated at the time, though her campaign later clarified that abolition represents an aspirational goal rather than an immediate policy objective. Hong has since acknowledged that governors lack the authority to implement such measures unilaterally.

When confronted about the resurfaced posts, the former chef dismissed the posts as products of emotional outbursts on social media, saying she had hoped to become a sports journalist in college and acknowledged making “hot takes, and sometimes bad takes on Twitter.” She told reporters her current focus remains on issues voters prioritize rather than litigating past statements. The primary election is scheduled for Tuesday.