Some Progressives Avoid Francesca Hong Amid Turbulent Primary Season: ‘I Don’t Know Her’

Aug 12, 2026 12:49 AM - 1 hour ago 1

Topline

Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate, authorities Rep. Francesca Hong, is the latest socialist campaigner to make waves this superior season, but immoderate salient progressives person refused to endorse her—as a chaotic superior play has shaken the party’s identity.

Wisconsin Gubernatorial campaigner Francesca Hong (L) perceive to Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) speak earlier being introduced during a run rally connected August 2, 2026 successful Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Joshua Lott/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Key Facts

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., person not endorsed Hong, pinch Warren telling Politico successful a portion published Tuesday, “I don’t cognize her,” while Sanders told Pod Save America precocious he was “not that familiar” pinch the Wisconsin governor’s race, noting he hasn’t been progressive successful galore gubernatorial races.

Ocasio-Cortez told ABC News complete the play she didn’t endorse anyone successful Hong’s race, because she’s been focused connected legislature races, but defended Hong against disapproval of erstwhile arguable statements, including cancelling Thanksgiving and wanting to abolish the police, telling the web Hong has revised immoderate of her stances.

While it’s not uncommon for members of Congress to enactment retired of state-level races successful states they don’t represent, governmental watchers person speculated that progressive leaders mightiness beryllium avoiding Hong’s title aft they were burned by Graham Platner, the erstwhile Maine Democratic Senate nominee who was forced to driblet retired of the title aft a drawstring of controversies, culminating successful allegations of intersexual assault.

Polls show Hong apt winning Tuesday’s primary, but immoderate Democrats are informing that she mightiness not beryllium capable to hit presumptive Republican nominee Tom Tiffany successful the wide election.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who endorsed her opponent, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, said “probably not” when asked precocious by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel if Hong could triumph successful November and he would not perpetrate to endorsing her aliases campaigning pinch her if she wins the primary, he told Politico.

In a motion that Republicans position Hong arsenic a weaker candidate, an advertisement by Right Direction Wisconsin, which is linked to the Republican Governors Association, billed Hong arsenic excessively wide and highlighted her push to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is simply a strategy immoderate see designed to rally support among Democratic voters, The New York Times noted.

Contra

Progressive Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., person formally endorsed Hong.

What To Watch For

Polls show Hong is apt to triumph Tuesday’s primary, but faces a reliable situation against Tiffany successful the wide election. A caller State Navigate canvass shows Hong losing support to Tiffany among Democratic superior voters successful November—70% said they would decidedly backmost Hong, but 3% said they would astir apt support Tiffany and 5% said they would decidedly backmost Tiffany. A Marquette Law School poll besides recovered Lt. Gov Mandela Barnes, who has since dropped out, was the only Democratic superior campaigner pinch an advantage complete Tiffany successful the wide election, while Hong trailed Tiffany by 3 percent points.

Big Number

95.5%. Those are Hong’s likelihood of winning the primary, according to the Kalshi prediction market.

Tangent

Abdul El-Sayed’s triumph successful the Michigan Democratic Senate superior is different plaything authorities title that will trial the progressive activity successful the wide election. El-Sayed won his superior by a thinner-than-expected separator past week, and polls show a near-tie betwixt him and the Republican nominee, erstwhile Rep. Mike Rogers. President Donald Trump celebrated El-Sayed’s triumph arsenic “great news for the Republican Party.” Unlike Hong, El-Sayed isn’t an charismatic personnel of the Democratic Socialists of America and he had the backing of salient progressives, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., though it’s not uncommon that they wouldn’t make endorsements successful gubernatorial races successful states they don’t represent.

CRUCIAL QUOTE

“It would beryllium bully for @AbdulElSayed if Francesca Hong loses her bid to go the Democratic nominee successful Wisconsin adjacent week,” longtime Democratic run advisor David Axelrod tweeted past week. “He is simply a superior person. She is simply a font of zany liberal, module lounge exotica.”

Key Background

Hong is among 4 Democrats moving to switch Evers, who is retiring astatine the extremity of the year. Crowley initially suspended his run successful early July and endorsed Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, past re-entered the title 10 days later erstwhile Rodriguez dropped out. Barnes besides dropped out, citing Hong’s lead successful a statement. Hong has faced disapproval for a bid of arguable past societal media posts, including bashing Thanksgiving successful 2020, alleging the vacation is “celebrating colonialism.” She faced much disapproval for her roundabout reply to CNN past week erstwhile asked if she wanted to “cancel Thanksgiving,” arsenic she advocated for successful 2020, past reversed her position successful an question and reply pinch Politico, telling the outlet past week it’s really her favourite holiday.