Francesca Hong’s Wisconsin Gubernatorial Campaign: From Ramen Kitchen to Statewide Race

Francesca Hong, a state assembly member and former restaurateur, entered the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor as the front-runner. Recent polls show her holding a decisive advantage over her primary rivals. An internal poll released by David Crowley’s campaign shows Hong leading by 18 points. A Marquette University Law School poll conducted July 22-27 among 407 Democratic primary voters placed Hong at 38 percent, ahead of former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes (16 percent) and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (7 percent). The general election is scheduled for November 3.

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Hong’s public profile began in Madison’s restaurant scene. In 2016 she and chef Matt Morris opened Morris Ramen, a ramen shop that became a local fixture until it closed in February 2024 after pandemic-related financial pressures. The experience led her to activism for restaurant workers and a run for the 76th Assembly District seat in 2020, making her the first Asian American elected to the Wisconsin Legislature. In office she has advocated for eliminating the tipped minimum wage and improving labor conditions.

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• Marquette poll (July 22-27): Hong 38 %, Barnes 16 %, Crowley 7 % (34 % undecided).

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• Internal Crowley campaign poll: Hong leads by 18 points.

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• General election date: November 3.

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Hong frames her campaign around “permanent affordability,” calling for free childcare, fully funded public schools, higher taxes on the ultra-wealthy and corporations, and a moratorium on new data centers. She describes herself as the “only wage worker” in the governor’s race, noting she still picks up bartending shifts to stay connected to working-class realities.

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Late-night host Bill Maher criticized Hong for remarks made in a 2021 interview about her biracial son’s “proximity to whiteness.” Maher also highlighted a past statement in which Hong suggested canceling Thanksgiving, noting her later reversal as evidence of political flip-flopping.

We Got This Covered

• “We did really well our first couple years. Folks really embraced the simplicity of the menu, the care we had for our staff, and the fact that we were literally a mom-and-pop joint. Matt and I were on the line every day,” — Francesca Hong

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• “I was mouthing off on Twitter and I started letter writing campaigns,” — Francesca Hong

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