Francesca Hong Leads Wisconsin Democratic Primary Amid Progressive-Centrist Debate

Francesca Hong, a state Assembly member and former restaurant owner, entered the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor as the clear front-runner on Tuesday. Internal campaign polling released this week shows Hong ahead of her nearest rival by 18 points. The general election is slated for November 3.

Newsweek

Hong and her then-husband, chef Matt Morris, opened Morris Ramen in downtown Madison in December 2016. The eatery became a local fixture, but the COVID-19 stay-at-home order forced the dining room to close in March 2020. Hong says the shutdown spurred her advocacy for restaurant workers and, later, a run for the 76th Assembly District, where she became the first Asian-American elected to the Wisconsin Legislature.

Newsweek

• A Marquette University Law School poll conducted July 22-27 of 407 Democratic primary voters placed Hong at 38 % support, ahead of former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes (16 %) and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (7 %).

Newsweek

• A State Navigate survey of 1,085 likely primary voters, fielded July 23-26, showed Hong at 44 % support, Crowley at 15 % and Barnes at 14 %. Both surveys were completed before Barnes ended his campaign on July 30.

Newsweek

• In the Marquette poll, 43 % of voters aged 18-29 backed Hong, compared with 9 % of voters 60 and older, and 45 % of respondents favorable toward democratic socialism supported her.

Newsweek

She also noted her progressive platform—free childcare, fully funded public schools, higher taxes on the ultra-wealthy, and a moratorium on new data centers—while rejecting calls to defund the police.

Newsweek