On the record · Updated October 1, 2026
gubernatorial candidate
44 things Francesca Hong said, verbatim, from June 7, 2026 to August 15, 2026, each linked to where it ran. Grouped by the story each one belongs to.
More on the record
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“My constituents reported they felt threatened and alerted me to the social post, but the image was cropped and incomplete to misrepresent anti-Zionism as antisemitism – a distinction I take seriously.”
The Forward Francesca Hong is dishing up a Wisconsin campaign that is about the working class and Israel ›
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“If Wisconsin is going to be a state that actually values human rights, then we have to ensure that we’re supporting, we’re fighting for the pro-Palestine movement,”
The Forward Races to watch: As staunch Israel critics notch wins, these candidates could be next ›
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“If we don’t want to come back to these types of moments where we’re making it harder for people to have affordable lives, then we better make sure that we fight for the solutions that actually meet the moment,”
on Francesca Hong's campaign message about affordability
The 19th The real-life, offline campaign of Francesca Hong ›
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“That the mega corporations and the billionaires pay their fair share. That we're unapologetic in taking on corporate interests and the status quo.”
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“When we talk about free childcare, you can connect to folks whether it’s on an economic argument or just purely that it’s the right thing to do for our kids,”
on free childcare's economic and moral appeal in elections
The Guardian How free childcare started winning US elections: ‘Overnight, people realized how essential it was’ ›
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“Workers are reclaiming our power, and this is an opportunity to ensure that the rest of politics across our country, I believe, can change when we win here in Wisconsin,”
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“I support defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police,”
on Hong's resurfaced tweet used to argue she hasn't dropped her past defund-police stance
The Federalist Father Of Woman Killed By Illegal Alien Warns Badger State Voters: Don’t Let Wisconsin Become Illinois ›
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“We no longer can have a system that protects a power and a privilege that puts the pain and lives of armed officers over black people. We cannot protect a system that continues to rain harm and terror.”
on socialist demands to abolish police and prisons
The Federalist Socialists’ Demands To Abolish Police And Prisons Will Mean More Dead Americans ›
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“How is 7 bullets in the back not excessive force. Police exist to uphold white supremacy. Defund then abolish. Reform can’t be an option. My heart breaks for the trauma the Blake family and their community continues to endure. #BlackLivesMatter”
The Guardian Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan primary victory is the latest win for progressives challenging establishment-backed Democrats – as it happened ›
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“My views are that people are struggling right now and need basic eeds met and I want to focus on stopping violent crime and giving law enforcement the resources and the training that they need, but ensure that we are also holding accountable law enforcement that does not follow the law.”
on balancing crime prevention with police accountability
The Guardian Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan primary victory is the latest win for progressives challenging establishment-backed Democrats – as it happened ›
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“I’m here to make sure that I am the governor that is most serious about public safety, and that means investing in the things that we know prevent crimes.”
on investing in crime prevention amid 'defund the police' baggage
Associated Press Democratic candidates grapple with 'defund the police' baggage ›
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“my perfect world would be a world without prisons,”
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“if anyone’s defunding police, it’s been Republicans in the Legislature who have been defunding our local governments and its cities and counties that fund law enforcement.”
on Republican state lawmakers cutting funding to local governments and police
NBC News Politics Riding primary momentum, democratic socialists eye a battleground state breakthrough ›
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“It's time to press control+alt+delete to put a stop to this AI data center crisis, a full moratorium until we have the new regulations we need to protect our energy costs, our economy, our environment”
NPR Data centers are a political issue crossing party lines, driving voters to candidates ›
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“Our ultimate goal is to make sure we don't have a MAGA extremist occupying the governor's office,”
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“That is a risky position, to have as a Democratic socialist in one of the most consequential swing states in the country,”
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“And if folks are talking about defund or democratic socialism or that I’m a commie, I am not. I never will be, and have never been,”
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“We’re going to have new videos come out that show folks who I am: small business owner, single mom, born and raised in Wisconsin, and ready to tax the billionaires and take on the data center crisis.”
on her Wisconsin campaign platform of taxing billionaires and opposing data centers
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“People are concerned about the future for their kids, and if we have a candidate who now has spent what four or five days flip-flopping on whether or not she likes Thanksgiving, it just shows that voters are not going to be able to trust her on the issues that they care most deeply about,”
on a Democratic candidate's shifting comments on Thanksgiving
USA Today Cancel Thanksgiving? This Democratic candidate is testing limits ›
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“Progressives have presented not only an alternative, but the fact that hey, maybe it's time we do something new, so we don't come back to these moments where people like him can get into power,”
on progressives offering an alternative to establishment politics
USA Today Cancel Thanksgiving? This Democratic candidate is testing limits ›
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“since Republicans will spend an ungodly amount of money um to defeat you, if you’re the nominee, to try to defeat you, I just want to make sure you have the best possible answers to what’s coming.”
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“a Republican will never be elected in this state ever again, once our movement is done.”
The Blaze Meet Wisconsin Democrats' new socialist front-runner for governor ›
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“I truly think that in this moment, the more that folks doubt our power, the more power we can actually reclaim,”
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“When I hear from folks that there’s only a certain group that’s supporting our campaign, or that it’s fringe or left, one word comes to mind: bullshit.”
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“As a Democratic Socialist, what that means is I want to put working class people first,”
Breitbart News Dana Perino Corners Socialist Francesca Hong on Her Vow to Abolish the Police ›
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“I’m an organizer first, and I understand that in politics, your currency is relationships and information.”
on Hong describing her approach as she becomes likely nominee after Barnes exits
AsAmNews Barnes out. Hong surges in Wisconsin governor’s race. ›
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“Democratic socialism is about democracy, fairness and human rights,”
on defining democratic socialism as rooted in fairness and human rights
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“People are ready for real change, but more importantly, they’re ready to be a part of making that change happen,”
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“…I’ve passed bipartisan legislation in the past. I think it’s important for the executive to set the standards and expectations and know that there’s the collective support and power of constituencies across the state to help move legislation forward.”
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“Earning that excitement is a powerful addition to growing a movement, to not only elect a Democratic governor, but Democrats down and up the ballot to win a trifecta, and actually govern to deliver for people of Wisconsin.”
AsAmNews Hong emerges as front-runner in Wisconsin Governor Primary polls ›
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“Regardless of the flavor or version, what’s most important is it centers care for working class, ordinary people…I’m not interested in just advancing a brand — I am interested in making sure that we are improving lives.”
on Hong's platform in the Wisconsin governor primary
AsAmNews Hong emerges as front-runner in Wisconsin Governor Primary polls ›
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“Five years ago, my community sent me to the Capitol. The system is rigged. I’m running for governor to fix it.”
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“Just because I am on a platform certainly does not mean that I endorse everything that has been said by either the hosts or other people who have gone on.”
on distancing herself from remarks made by hosts of podcasts she appeared on
The Forward Francesca Hong is dishing up a Wisconsin campaign that is about the working class and Israel ›
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“it’s vital that everyone running for this position is creating a standard of trust, honesty and accountability.” Brennan called the errors by Rodriguez’s campaign “disqualifying.” Roys spokesperson Jalen Knuteson said the issue contributed to a pattern showing that”
on standards of trust and accountability among Wisconsin governor candidates
ABC News: Politics Wisconsin governor candidate says her campaign has far less money than she thought ›
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“I worry that's a miscalculation of where voters are at in our state, that we're underestimating what people want,”
PBS News Hour - Politics Democratic socialist Francesca Hong tests how far left voters will go in battleground Wisconsin ›
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“We do this in Wisconsin, we're going to change politics across the country,”
on her Wisconsin campaign as a model for progressive politics nationally
PBS News Hour - Politics Democratic socialist Francesca Hong tests how far left voters will go in battleground Wisconsin ›
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“Working-class people and communities of color — folks who have been underserved — they’re coming out for candidates like Zohran, who are not just inspiring but are running on issues that are deeply personal and impactful in their lives.”
NBC News Politics Riding primary momentum, democratic socialists eye a battleground state breakthrough ›
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“I think that has always been a problem for the Democratic Party — that we are not listening to how they are feeling.”
on Democrats failing to listen to voters in swing states
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“If Democrats hope to beat Republican incumbents in red and purple districts, then they cannot run candidates who are far outside the mainstream of their district,”
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“Should have done this in 1621”
CBN News Democrat Socialists Suffer Setback in Wisconsin, Darline Graham Advances in SC Special Election ›
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“Should have done this in 1621. If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed Indigenous folx and women so be it.”
on backlash to her calling Thanksgiving a celebration of colonialism
The Intercept Francesca Hong’s “Thanksgiving-Gate” Shows Her Detractors Are Totally Out of Ideas ›
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“The image was cropped and incomplete to misrepresent anti-Zionism as antisemitism – a distinction I take seriously.”
on Hong's apology after calling police over a vandalized Israeli flag
The Forward Francesca Hong, pro-Palestinian democratic socialist, polling far ahead in Wisconsin governor’s race ›
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“I wasn’t always aware of the struggles of other communities of color because for me assimilation always kind of took over. And so I did marry — and proximity to whiteness continues, right? My son is biracial. He’s half white and half Korean,”
The Blaze Wisconsin's DSA star laments biracial son's 'whiteness' ›
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“will compromise free speech across the state and academic freedom at our universities.”
The Forward Races to watch: As staunch Israel critics notch wins, these candidates could be next ›
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