Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination, defended her membership in the Democratic Socialists of America during a televised interview while stepping back from earlier social media posts calling for the abolition of the police, the Senate and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Asked by host Dana Perino whether she disagreed with any part of the DSA platform, Hong said abolishing the Senate was «nonsensical and non-practical at this time». She also pushed back on the group's proposal to eliminate the Supreme Court, saying she believes in checks and balances.
Hong confirmed that she has been a dues-paying member of the DSA's Madison chapter since 2020. She described herself as a «democratic socialist», a «good single mom» and a «service industry worker» during the interview.
Perino then turned to Hong's previous posts endorsing police abolition, including a 2021 message written after federal prosecutors decided not to charge the officer involved in the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. «Why shouldn't people take you at your word when you say that you want to defund the police and go towards abolishing it?» Perino asked.
Hong said her views had evolved. «I believe that people can evolve», she said, adding that she meets Trump voters from previous elections who now say they would vote for her. Perino followed up: «So who needs to evolve, the voter or you?»
Hong then rejected her previous position. She noted that the governor of Wisconsin would not be able to defund the police and promised that, if elected, she «won't defund the police». In a May statement, Hong said she does not want to cut resources for public safety. «There is no way I want to cut resources for public safety», she said. «I don't like crime. I don't like unsafe streets. I also don't like when a member of law enforcement abuses their power.»
The interview came about a month after Hong appeared on Hasan Piker's broadcast, where she defended many of the DSA's policies and confirmed support for universal childcare, free school meals, abolishing ICE, public grocery stores and legalizing cannabis.
Hong's campaign previously addressed her «Abolish the Senate» comments, saying she did not recall making the 2021 post. That post came after the Senate failed to convict then-President Donald Trump during impeachment proceedings.
Despite repeated scrutiny over her past statements, statewide polling has shown Hong positioned to take the Democratic nomination. She has been backed by local Wisconsin DSA chapters and has drawn public support from prominent Democrats including Representatives Ilhan Omar and Ro Khanna.
The episode highlights a continuing rift within the Democratic Party, as moderate Democrats reject many of the DSA's proposals even as DSA-backed candidates have won primary contests in New York and Colorado.
Nationally, the movement's influence has grown. A recent CNN poll conducted by SSRS found that 34% of Democratic-leaning adults identify as democratic socialists, while 15% of all respondents said the same. Those identifying as democratic socialists were mostly younger and White: 59% were under 45 and 57% were White, according to the survey. The group was also less likely to hold a college degree and more likely to earn less than $100,000 a year.
The same survey suggested that democratic socialists are more energized ahead of the election than other Democrats. Sixty-six percent said they are extremely motivated to vote this year, compared with 57% of other Democratic respondents.
