Francesca Hong’s Police Reform Record Shapes Wisconsin Governor’s Race

Democratic state Rep. Francesca Hong, a socialist, leads the 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial primary; her past calls to defund and abolish police dominate the race.

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The defund-police surge after 2020 protests prompted many Democrats to retreat; by 2022 Pelosi declared the slogan dead.

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• Mar 2020: X post “defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police.”

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• Aug 2020: Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha intensifies her rhetoric.

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• Apr 12 2021: Post linking police to white-supremacy after Daunte Wright’s killing.

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• Mar 2023: Changed X bio from “Occupied Ho-Chunk Land” to “Wisconsin, USA.”

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• Apr 2026: Local TV interview stresses community investment, rejects arbitrary cuts.

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Marquette poll (Mar 2026) shows Hong at 14% support, Barnes 11%, 65% of Democratic primary voters undecided. Gallup (Jul 2020) found 47% favor shifting police funds; Axios/Ipsos (Apr 2021) 27% support defund, 70% oppose; 15% back abolition.

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Hong told CNN she has not renounced past abolition calls, framing them as part of a broader conversation and a long-term vision separating public safety from law enforcement. She opposes arbitrary cuts, favoring investments in schools, libraries and community centers. Wisconsin Republicans cite her historic posts as evidence of a far-left agenda; Senate Republicans tied “defund the police” rhetoric to the Secure America Act. Barnes’s campaign says he does not support defunding the police.

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Wisconsin GOP officials argue Hong’s rhetoric is out of step with the state’s moderate electorate, using it to label the Democratic ticket extremist. Democratic rivals such as Sara Rodriguez avoid abolition language.

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Hong declined to confirm current support for police abolition, stating only that she opposes arbitrary cuts and stresses community investment. Some past posts remain online, others deleted, leaving her precise stance ambiguous.

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The race in swing-state Wisconsin could shape national criminal-justice discourse; Republicans leverage Hong’s past rhetoric, while Democrats risk internal division over policing policy.

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The Democratic primary occurs August 2026; the winner will face Rep. Tom Tiffany in November. Both campaigns will intensify public-safety messaging, with Hong likely addressing past statements.

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• “defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police.” — Francesca Hong, X post, 2020

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• “police exist to uphold white supremacy. Defund then abolish. Reform can’t be an option.” — Francesca Hong, 2021 statement

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• “When an institution can only respond in violence because it is so deeply rooted in maintaining a carcerel system upheld by white supremacy, the priority can and only be to work to abolish the institution,” — Francesca Hong, April 12 2021 post

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• “I think we have to make investments in what would help prevent crime —investments in communities, our public schools, community centers, public libraries. When there are limited resources, we have to look at where we can make cuts as well as where we can make investments,” — Francesca Hong, local TV interview, April 2026

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