Dem Says Culver’s Trip Gave Her ‘Anxiety Attack’ Over ‘White People’

The Democrat frontrunner for Wisconsin governor faced renewed criticism on Friday after social media users resurfaced a 2019 post in which she said she nearly had an “anxiety attack” because there were too many “old white people” at a Culver’s restaurant. 

Francesca Hong, a Wisconsin state representative backed by multiple Democratic Socialists of America chapters, became the clear favorite for the Democratic nomination Thursday after former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes dropped out of the race.

“I ate two bites of my kid’s cheeseburger at a Culver’s in black river falls (sic) 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,” Hong posted on X. 

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 many old white people who didn’t think we spoke english

— Francesca Hong For Governor (@FrancescaHongWI) July 2, 2019

Recent Marquette Law School polling found Hong with a commanding double-digit lead ahead of next month’s Democratic primary, raising concerns among some establishment Democrats that her left-wing positions could alienate voters in the general election. 

Hong’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on her comments. In a Wednesday post on X, Hong lamented that “folks are digging up old tweets in an attempt to shift the narrative in this race.”

“Here’s a Democrat gubernatorial candidate complaining about how she nearly had an ‘anxiety attack’ because there were too many ‘white people’ at a restaurant,” said Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX). “Nothing unifies the Democrat Party more than vitriolic racial animus against white people. It’s evil and indefensible.”

Hong, who is backed by DSA chapters in Madison and Milwaukee and endorsed by leftist Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Ro Khanna (D-CA), has also drawn attention for past statements about policing and race. In 2021, she wrote, “Police exist to uphold white supremacy. Defund then abolish. Reform can’t be an option.”

Hong has also advocated abolishing ICE, imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers, creating government-owned grocery stores, restoring voting rights to felons,  and legalizing marijuana. She has also previously advocated for abolishing the U.S. Senate. 

The Wisconsin Democrats will choose their nominee in the August 11 primary. Some state Democrats, including Gov. Tony Evers, are backing Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.