Wisconsin Dem Gov. Says Socialist Candidate Is ‘In A Tough Place’ After Thanksgiving Uproar

Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers expressed skepticism Thursday about socialist gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong’s general election prospects, questioning whether her social media-driven strategy and outlandish statements can keep the governor’s mansion in Democratic hands.

Evers, who has endorsed and is campaigning for Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, seemed discouraged when asked whether Hong could win a general election.

“I think she’s in a tough place. She has spent her entire campaign dealing not with the issues, but what’s on the Twitter, and I just find that that’s not a good way to beat Tom Tiffany,” Evers told local reporters. “It’s going to be tough. I mean, do I think that it’s possible she can win? But I think she’s at a real disadvantage, especially since she spends a lot of time talking about Twitter.” 

He’s not alone. 

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) declined to endorse the leftist gubernatorial candidate who generated national headlines in recent days over her previous calls to cancel one of America’s most treasured holidays. 

“I don’t think so. I met Francesca a couple of years ago, [when] I was in Wisconsin. And she was very, very nice. But, again, this is a race I just am not that familiar with,” Sanders said on the “Pod Save America” podcast.

Hong, holding a commanding lead in the Democratic primary, sparked a political firestorm this week over an unearthed November 2020 post where she said Thanksgiving should be scrapped from the American tradition. 

“Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621,” she said. “If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed indigenous folx and women, so be it.”

That particular comment appeared to bother Evers, who argued it was evidence that the DSA-backed leftist is focused on issues Wisconsin voters don’t care about.

“She was on CNN, I think, or someplace for a couple days in a row, talking about things that, frankly, are irrelevant. Yeah, it was Thanksgiving. She was talking about Thanksgiving, and yeah, she really likes it, but she doesn’t like it,” Evers said. “Come on! This is about making sure the people of Wisconsin get what they need to be successful.” 

The 37-year-old dues-paying member of the Democratic Socialists of America is campaigning on a sweeping expansion of government, including abolishing ICE, imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers, creating government-owned grocery stores, and providing universal childcare and paid leave.

Hong also supports legalizing marijuana to fund high-speed broadband and backs a state-run development bank, a 32-hour workweek with no reduction in pay, restoring voting rights to felons, and dramatically reducing the role of prisons and police, The Daily Wire reported. 

Hong’s campaign is the latest test of democratic socialist candidates in competitive statewide races following recent victories in New York City, Washington, D.C., Denver, and, most recently, Michigan. Prediction markets overwhelmingly favor Hong to win the primary.

“The system is rigged. I’m running for governor to fix it. For years, we’ve been told that doing better is impossible. Well, let me tell you, that’s bullsh*t,” she said in her campaign launch video.