Francesca Hong Leads Wisconsin Democratic Gubernatorial Primary

Democratic socialist Francesca Hong—a state Assembly member who still works bartending shifts—has emerged as the front-runner in Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, a state Donald Trump carried in both 2016 and 2024. Hong entered the race in September and now leads every public poll of the field. Her campaign emphasizes “permanent affordability,” including free childcare, fully funded public schools, higher taxes on the ultra-wealthy and corporations, and a moratorium on new data centers. She also pledges a hard line on immigration enforcement, saying she will not cooperate with ICE.

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She cites more than 300 events across Wisconsin and nearly 50,000 miles of travel as evidence of grassroots organizing.

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• Marquette University Law School poll (July 22-27) of 407 Democratic primary voters shows Hong at 38 %, former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes at 16 %, and David Crowley at 7 %, with 34 % undecided.

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• State Navigate survey (July 23-26) of 1,085 likely primary voters, sponsored by UpNorthNews and Main Street Action, puts Hong at 44 %, Crowley at 15 %, and Barnes at 14 %.

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• An internal Crowley campaign poll released this week indicates Hong leading by 18 points.

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• Barnes ended his campaign on July 30.

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• The general election is scheduled for November 3.

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Republican U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany has labeled Hong a “card-carrying socialist” and accused her of supporting the abolition of the Senate and prisons. Former Obama adviser David Axelrod wrote that many voters would conclude the party would lose Wisconsin if Hong secured the nomination, citing her past social-media posts on Thanksgiving and policing as potential liabilities.

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• “It's not as simple as putting food on the table,” — Francesca Hong

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• “I think you have to launch your campaign thinking that there's always a chance you can win,” — Francesca Hong

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• “Our campaign is building a working-class movement demanding better from government,” — Francesca Hong

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• “A double-digit win is a landslide,” — Francesca Hong

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• “I think she's in a tough place. She has spent her entire campaign dealing not with the issues, but what's on the Twitter,” — Tony Evers, wisconsin governor

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