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Francesca Hong, the likely Democratic nominee for governor in Wisconsin backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, once argued that Americans should not celebrate Thanksgiving.
“Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621,” Hong wrote in a now-deleted post to X.
“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,” she added, referring to the spread of smallpox that killed many indigenous Americans.
The post, which was originally made in November 2020, sheds more light on Hong’s progressive thinking as she emerges as a frontrunner in the Wisconsin gubernatorial contest and drew mockery online.
“‘Folx,’” Stephen Miller, a conservative podcaster, posted to X, noting the term used to signal inclusivity of LGBTQ+ and other marginalized groups.
“Francesca Hong is all but certain to be the Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin. She also wants to ‘Cancel Thanksgiving,’ according to a since-deleted tweet. What is going on in Wisconsin??” another observer wrote.
Hong has leaned into her socialist record in her campaign, describing it as ensuring that “working-class people have their fair share.”
Hong shares policy positions with other notable progressives like New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, another self-proclaimed socialist. Among other platform positions, Hong is championing race-based grants for social workers, publicly funded grocery stores and a state-run bank.
The stances seem to have paid off as Hong has gained momentum in recent months, and, with under two weeks to go until the primary, looks poised to capture the Democratic nomination.
Hong also started getting mocked Friday for a resurfaced 2019 post where she said, “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. 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.”
“Omg English ***TOO **AN,” she replied.
“Bold choice for Democrats in Wisconsin running someone statewide who gets a panic attack at Culver’s at the sight of ‘old white people,’” Former White House Principal Deputy Communications Director Alex Pfeiffer wrote on X.
“The only way this post could be worse for someone running for office in Wisconsin is if she had complained that Culver’s uses too much butter,” Chuck Ross, an investigative reporter at the Washington Free Beacon, wrote on X.
“One of the democrats running for Governor of Wisconsin doesn’t know that Culver’s serves only fresh frozen custard. She thinks they serve ice cream. Disqualifying,” Brick Suit, an online MAGA personality, wrote on X.
The race was shaken up on Thursday when Mandela Barnes, the state’s former lieutenant governor, dropped out of the race.
Barnes was considered a frontrunner in the race because of his proximity to outgoing Gov. Tony Evers and his name recognition.
His exit also coincides with rumblings that Barnes may have abused his position in the past to make sexual advances toward women in the workplace, an allegation currently under investigation by The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
With his departure, Hong and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley were left as the two main contenders.
Hong has received backing from a number of nationally recognized progressives, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. She has raised nearly $709,000 as of late June, according to state records.
By comparison, Crowley has secured $250,000 and enjoys the support of a number of local organizations and figures.
Gov. Evers has endorsed Crowley, citing his experience.The gubernatorial primary will take place Aug. 11.
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