Meet Francesca Hong: The Chef-Turned-Lawmaker Shaking Up Wisconsin’s Governor Race

Quick Summary: Wisconsin State Representative Francesca Hong—a chef, bartender, single mom, and democratic socialist—is shaking up the 2026 governor’s race with a joyful, grassroots campaign that’s drawing big crowds, national attention, and plenty of debate about whether a democratic socialist can win in a swing state like Wisconsin.

A Rally on a Perfect Summer Day

Picture This: It’s a gorgeous Sunday in Madison, Wisconsin. The sun is shining, the lake breeze is perfect, and most people are outside enjoying the rare perfect weather.

But a few hundred people chose to spend their afternoon inside a dark music hall on Madison’s east side. They came to see Francesca Hong—a 37-year-old chef, bartender, state representative, and democratic socialist running for governor.

What happened at the rally:

• Hong spoke about building community and a progressive movement
• She danced to the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack—and the crowd joined in!
• The crowd chanted her name
• Her message: "We’re bringing joy and fun back into politics."

Key Quote: "What makes this campaign different is that we’re building the movement to meet the moment. We’re bringing joy and fun back into politics." — Francesca Hong

A Campaign Built on Joy (and "Loteria")

Hong’s campaign headquarters feels more like a community art space than a traditional campaign HQ:

• Mismatched furniture, vinyl records, and colorful fabric banners
• One wall features art stitched with: "The sun will find us: an excavation of love"
• Hong says it represents "how we can find healing in times of crisis and chaos"

Her campaign events are… different:

• Dance party rallies (with K-pop!)
• Slumber party-style livestreams
• Cooking events on dairy farms
• Community art-making sessions
• "Loteria" game nights (Mexican bingo) where each card represents a policy position

Key Idea: Hong believes joy is part of governing—not just a campaign tactic.

Her Policy Platform: Populist + Progressive

Policies shared with other Democrats:

• Free school meals for all kids
• Overturning Act 10 (the 2011 law that limited public sector unions)

Her more progressive positions:

• Universal childcare for all families
• Public bank (a state-owned bank to fund local projects)
• Moratorium on data center construction (only Democrat supporting this)
• Tax the rich / criticize corporate tax breaks
• Calls out "the Epstein class" (her term for wealthy elites)
• Calls Trump administration "authoritarian"

Supporter Quote: "If it’s us versus the billionaires, then they’re going to be paying out politicians to do their bidding—so whoever is not taking that money and has a grassroots campaign has my vote." — Peggy McCrumb, musician & supporter

The "Best Race" — But Can She Win in November?

Republican strategist Bill McCoshen (who ran Gov. Tommy Thompson’s 1994 re-election) calls Hong’s campaign "the best race so far"—which he calls "stunning" because 10 months ago, he thought she had no chance.

Why she’s winning the primary:

• Authenticity resonates with Democratic voters
• Grassroots energy — small-dollar donations pouring in
• National momentum — democratic socialists winning in NY, NJ, CA, CO
• Polling — consistently at or near the top of Democratic field
• $92,000 raised in hours after a livestream appearance

Key Insight: "It’s not just our campaign that has carried that forward. It’s the political climate." — Francesca Hong

The Big Question: Can she beat Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany in November?

• Wisconsin is a swing state (very close elections)
• Some Democrats worry she’s too progressive for a general election
• Republican Governors Association is spending millions on ads saying she’s "too liberal for Wisconsin"
• Strategy alert: Some Republicans want her to win the primary because they think she’s easier to beat in November

Critical Insight: Republican strategist Bill McCoshen says Tiffany "If Tom Tiffany were to make a mistake, who knows?" — but adds Tiffany "is not taking her lightly."

The Democratic Establishment vs. The Movement

Party leaders are nervous:

• ~Half of Democratic voters still undecided
• Some leaders backing anyone-but-Hong (e.g., Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley, endorsed by Gov. Tony Evers)
• Concerns: Her past calls to "defund police," appearance at a police shooting protest with a megaphone, appearances on controversial podcasts

Controversy: Hong appeared on podcasts hosted by streamers with histories of antisemitic and anti-American comments.

• Ann Jacobs (Wisconsin Elections Commission/Jewish Caucus chair): "Willing to sell out the Jews of Wisconsin for a few bucks."
• Hong’s response: Appearing ≠ endorsing every past comment; it’s about reaching disengaged voters

Hong’s Perspective: "There’s always some nervousness about new or different approaches… People tell me our campaign gives them hope."

Who Is Francesca Hong? (The Human Behind the Campaign)

• Chef & bartender — still picked up shifts while serving in the legislature
• Single mom and renter (not a homeowner)
• Korean-American, born and raised in Wisconsin
• State Representative from Madison (elected 2020)
• Democratic Socialist — part of a national wave (NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, NJ Rep. Analilia Mejia, etc.)
• Joyful campaigner — dances, cooks, plays games, makes art with supporters

Her Pitch: "Regardless of where they may be in supporting me… a lot of people tell me that our campaign gives them hope."

Quick Comparison: The Democratic Field

Summary: What You Need to Know

Bottom Line: Francesca Hong is running a campaign unlike anything Wisconsin has seen—joyful, grassroots, unapologetically left-wing. She’s winning the energy game. The question is: Can that energy win a general election in a 50-50 state?

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

1. What is a "democratic socialist" anyway?

ELI5: It means someone who believes democracy should extend to the economy—not just politics. They want things like healthcare, housing, childcare, and education to be guaranteed rights, not just things you buy if you can afford them. They still believe in voting and democracy (unlike authoritarian socialists).

2. Why are Republicans spending money against her in the Democratic primary?

ELI5: It’s a trick! Republicans think Hong would be easier to beat in November than a more moderate Democrat. So they run ads attacking her now to rile up liberal voters and help her win the primary. It’s called "meddling in the other party’s primary."

3. What is Act 10, and why does she want to overturn it?

ELI5: Act 10 (passed in 2011 by Gov. Scott Walker) stripped most public sector unions (teachers, nurses, etc.) of collective bargaining rights. Hong and other progressives want to restore those rights.

4. What’s a "public bank" and why does she want one?

ELI5: A state-owned bank that holds public money (tax revenue, pension funds) and lends it for local needs—affordable housing, small businesses, farms—instead of sending profits to Wall Street shareholders. North Dakota has had one since 1919!

5. Why does the data center moratorium matter?

ELI5: Massive data centers (for AI, cloud computing) use huge amounts of electricity and water. Hong wants to pause building new ones until Wisconsin figures out if the grid can handle it and whether communities benefit. She’s the only Dem candidate calling for this pause.

6. Can a democratic socialist actually win statewide in Wisconsin?

ELI5: That’s the million-dollar question! Wisconsin is a true swing state (Trump won by ~20k votes in 2024). No democratic socialist has won a governor’s race here in modern times. But Hong’s team argues the political climate has shifted—voters are fed up with costs and corporate power. The primary (August) will test the theory; the general (November) will answer it.

Want to Learn More?

• WPR’s full candidate profiles: wpr.org/elections
• New York Times profile: Francesca Hong & Democratic Socialism in Wisconsin
• Marquette Law School Poll: Latest governor race polling

This article is based on reporting by Anya van Wagtendonk for Wisconsin Public Radio.
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