Wisconsin state Representative Francesca Hong, a self-described Democratic Socialist running in the Democratic primary for governor, has drawn attention for a string of past social media posts that critics say are sharply critical of America and its institutions. Her online history includes posts that question national celebrations, discuss race and policing, and express personal anxieties. Those posts have resurfaced during a competitive primary and drawn scrutiny from voters and political observers alike.
In a Jan. 20, 2022 post Hong wrote, “I want this country to stop being an abundance of suffering but a wealth of opportunity,” a line that supporters say reflects a desire for systemic change while opponents interpret it as a harsh indictment of the nation. The post goes on to state, “We can do this by providing equal rights to Black and Brown folks,” and “Elect more Black and Brown folks who won’t be racist obstructionists. We can all be better and do so much more.” That sequence of comments has been replayed in campaign coverage as emblematic of her progressive priorities.
Hong was once a chef and is a mother of one, and she has positioned herself as part of a growing wave of Democratic Socialists seeking higher office this year. She is competing in the Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin, and her past social media activity has become a focal point for critics who see it as evidence of radical views. Supporters counter that her statements are about expanding opportunity and representation.
https://x.com/francescahongwi/status/1484030241249140737?s=46
One of the most cited posts reads, “Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621,” and continues, “If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed indigenous folx [sic] and women, so be it.” Those lines reignited debates about how the nation should remember its history and how candidacy statements from years past should be judged in a modern campaign. The post was among several that opponents say show a dismissive view of traditional American holidays.
Her timeline also includes a 2019 entry in which she wrote, “I ate two bites of my kid’s cheeseburger at a Culver’s in black river falls and told him they ran out of ice cream,” that post said. “Mostly just wanted to leave bc I was on the verge of a anxiety attack…to (sic) many old white people who didn’t think we spoke english.” That candid description of personal discomfort around strangers has been seized on by critics who question her ability to represent a diverse statewide electorate.
After prosecutors decided not to charge officers in the Jacob Blake shooting, Hong publicly called for a hardline approach to policing. She asked, “How is 7 bullets in the back not excessive force,” and added, “Police exist to uphold White supremacy. Defund then abolish. Reform can’t be an option. My heart breaks for the trauma the Blake family and their community continues to endure.” Those comments align her with abolitionist rhetoric that many voters find controversial in a gubernatorial race.
Her team has defended her broader goals while saying the tone of her language has evolved. A campaign spokesperson described her positions by noting, “Rep. Hong has spoken in the past about police and prison abolition as an aspirational goal, akin to eradicating disease or eliminating poverty,” and added that how she discusses such aims has shifted. Hong herself has acknowledged that the governor lacks unilateral power to “defund the police,” a point she has made while arguing for addressing public safety through policy rather than slogans.
When asked about past posts, Hong has framed them as youthful or impulsive commentary. “I learned then you have some hot takes, and sometimes bad takes on Twitter, and I let my feelings out into the world,” she said, pointing to a history of candid online remarks. Her campaign has not provided extensive new clarifications beyond saying she is focused on the issues voters care about.
The campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the latest resurfaced post, and the exchanges have become a steady part of the primary conversation. Voters watching the race are weighing whether past social media behavior should define a candidate’s suitability for statewide office, with backers arguing for context and critics calling for accountability. The discussion over Hong’s record is likely to continue through the primary season as both her progressive agenda and past rhetoric stay in the spotlight.
