Francesca Hong, a candidate for governor in Wisconsin representing the Democratic Party, has faced scrutiny for past social media posts. In a post from January 20, 2022, she described America as 'an abundance of suffering' and expressed a desire for the country to become 'a wealth of opportunity.' Hong emphasized the need for equal rights for Black and Brown individuals and called for more representation in government.
Hong has previously made statements that have drawn criticism, including a now-deleted post suggesting the cancellation of Thanksgiving due to its colonial implications. She also expressed anxiety in social situations with White individuals in a 2019 post.
In response to the 2020 shooting of Jacob Blake, Hong called for the abolition of police, stating that police exist to uphold White supremacy. Her campaign has maintained that her views on police and prison abolition are aspirational goals. Hong has acknowledged that as governor, she would not have the power to defund the police.
When questioned about her past remarks, Hong stated that she was focused on the issues that matter to voters and acknowledged that she has made both good and bad statements on social media.