GOP Super PAC Funds $2.2 Million Ads That Appear to Boost Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong in Wisconsin Governor Primary

A political action committee called Right Direction Wisconsin, linked to the Republican Governors Association (RGA), began airing a 30-second television advertisement on Thursday, July 15 2026, in liberal areas of Wisconsin such as Madison and Milwaukee. The ad criticizes Democratic candidate Francesca Hong for “opposing President Trump’s deportation policies, and she wants to abolish ICE,” and concludes with the line “That’s Francesca Hong. Too liberal for Wisconsin.” The campaign has allocated $2.2 million to the spot, a strategy analysts describe as an attempt to use reverse psychology to increase Hong’s appeal among Democratic primary voters.

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Hong, a self-identified democratic socialist, is one of several candidates in a crowded August Democratic primary that also includes Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. Republicans have previously employed similar tactics in opposing parties’ primaries to elevate candidates they deem weaker in a general election. The RGA’s effort reflects concerns that a more progressive nominee could hand the governor’s mansion to Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in November.

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Kollin Crompton, spokesperson for the RGA, said the ads are intended to show voters “how dangerously liberal Democrat front-runner Francesca Hong truly is.” Allison Geyer, a spokesperson for Hong, called the RGA’s decision “deeply disturbing” and framed it as an attack on Hong’s “Keep Families Together” legislative package. Hong herself responded on the social platform X, thanking the RGA for highlighting her policy and stating that opponents “continue to underestimate our campaign and underestimate Wisconsin voters.”

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Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki condemned the effort as “a sneaky, underhanded, blatant attempt to meddle in the democratic process.” Darby O’Connor, campaign manager for Barnes, argued the GOP is “meddling to pick the candidate Tom Tiffany wants to face in November,” asserting that the race should be decided by voters, not “billionaire MAGA donors.”

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• “Every Democratic campaign for governor — including Hong’s — should call this out for what it is: A sneaky, underhanded, blatant attempt to meddle in the democratic process,” — Joe Zepecki, Democratic strategist

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• “It’s time that Wisconsin voters start to learn just how dangerously liberal Democrat front-runner Francesca Hong truly is,” — Kollin Crompton, RGA spokesperson

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• “The RGA’s decision to attack Rep. Hong for protecting immigrant families during a week marked by three more ICE-related deaths is deeply disturbing,” — Allison Geyer, Hong spokesperson

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• “They continue to underestimate our campaign and underestimate Wisconsin voters. Let them,” — Francesca Hong, candidate

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• “Right as the GOP gets confirmation that this is a two-person race, they decide to meddle to pick the candidate Tom Tiffany wants to face in November,” — Darby O’Connor, Barnes campaign manager

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