Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez found herself defending Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong after questions arose regarding her past remarks on Thanksgiving. During an appearance on ABC's This Week with Jonathan Karl, AOC addressed concerns raised by Karl about Hong’s previously expressed views, stating that Hong had evolved beyond those statements. The conversation took place amid heightened scrutiny of Hong’s record following revelations of her past comments on the holiday. Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old democratic socialist, state lawmaker, and former chef, has emerged as the leading candidate for the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial nomination in Wisconsin. Despite growing opposition from moderate rivals, Hong appears poised to secure the nomination. Her primary opponent, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, received just over 3,000 more votes than Hong, though he had the endorsement of outgoing Governor Tony Evers. The race has drawn intense focus, particularly due to the controversy surrounding Hong’s past remarks on Thanksgiving. In a now-deleted tweet from 2020, Hong had stated, “Cancel Thanksgiving. 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.” These comments resurfaced during the campaign, drawing criticism from both media and political figures. Despite the backlash, Hong maintained that the issue of Thanksgiving was not central to the campaign, emphasizing instead her policy proposals related to childcare, data centers, and the restoration of Wisconsin’s Limburger cheese industry. Media coverage of Hong’s campaign has largely focused on her past remarks rather than her policy positions. Headlines such as “A Democratic Socialist Disparaged Thanksgiving” and “Can Voters Forgive Her?” highlighted the controversy, although few Wisconsin voters were found to oppose Hong on this basis. The New York Post speculated about a dystopian future under Hong’s governance, imagining a world devoid of football and family gatherings. Meanwhile, Center for American Progress President Neera Tanden questioned whether Hong’s critics had considered the context of her comments, suggesting that the discourse was overly academic. Despite the media frenzy, Hong’s campaign has demonstrated resilience. With over 300,000 votes, she achieved one of the highest vote totals ever recorded for a Wisconsin Democrat in a contested primary. Her performance surpassed that of Governor Tony Evers, who had won his initial nomination in 2018. Although she narrowly missed securing the nomination, her showing underscored the strength of a new political movement within the Democratic Party. Analysts noted that her campaign had defied expectations, challenging the notion that socialist candidates lacked electability in key states. Hong emphasized that her campaign was not solely about personal success but about building a broader movement. Addressing supporters after the primary, she stated, “We have built something that will change politics forever. What we have done will be remembered. I don’t even know how the final results will end. But what I do know is that we are ready to keep fighting.” Her message resonated with many, highlighting the potential for a shift in political dynamics within Wisconsin. As the primary concluded, the focus shifted toward the general election, where Hong could face Republican nominee Tom Tiffany. Internal Democratic surveys suggested that Hong could still be a competitive candidate, despite the challenges posed by the media narrative surrounding her past comments. Her campaign continued to emphasize policy platforms and grassroots mobilization, positioning her as a viable alternative to traditional centrist candidates. The outcome of the general election remains uncertain, but Hong’s influence on the Democratic Party landscape is likely to persist.
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