Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Declines to Endorse Wisconsin Gov. Candidate Francesca Hong

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) announced on Sunday that she will not endorse Francesca Hong, the democratic-socialist candidate seeking the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin governor.

The Hill

Francesca Hong entered the 2024 Wisconsin gubernatorial race after a career in biotech and a platform that previously included calls to abolish prisons, defund the police and cancel Thanksgiving. Those positions have since been moderated, according to Ocasio-Cortez. The race has attracted national attention, with several progressive leaders—Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and the national Democratic Socialists of America—also opting not to endorse Hong.

The Hill

During an appearance on ABC News’s “This Week,” Ocasio-Cortez explained that she views the contest as “local” despite its nationalized perception, and noted Hong’s shift away from earlier, more radical positions. Ocasio-Cortez concluded by expressing gratitude for the candidates’ opportunity to present themselves to voters.

The Hill

• “I haven’t endorsed in that race. My focus has been in winning back the Congress, winning back the House and positioning ourselves to have the best chance possible to win the Senate,” — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

The Hill

• “I think that a lot of these races, even right now, they’ll have a tendency to be nationalized. But these races ultimately are local, and all politics are local. My understanding is that Francesca Hong has made clear her presence in her election,” — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

The Hill

These statements illustrate Ocasio-Cortez’s strategic focus on federal races and her assessment that the Wisconsin contest, while receiving national scrutiny, remains fundamentally a local political battle.

The Hill