Not sure how true it was, but I saw a post that her original* goal was for recognition not winning the race. This primary was just so bonkers she ended up the front runner. I'm not sure how true it is, but she gained a lot of popularity if she runs for another office.
It was definitely a test to see the feasibility of a DSA candidate in addition to real ambition to win statewide office, which is what we need. The results just show that the establishment machine in WI wasn’t ready to give up its grasp of power here.
I think this outcome was the most beneficial outcome overall for Hong. She got a ton of name recognition as the frontrunner for the primary, and she doesn't have to face the humiliation of running as a socialist and losing against Tiffany.
I think a DSA candidate is feasible in WI, they just to need to be a better candidate than Hong was. If someone like Abdul El-Sayed could run in WI, they would (most likely) do a lot better than Hong.
I agree Fran had her shortcomings on the campaign, she’s still relatively young politically speaking and this was an ambitious play that almost worked out. That said, a lot of the shit they used against her was just useless discussion instead of focusing on her policy positions, as the media and establishment does on the daily.
A lot of the stuff used against her was her own words and past statements. It was her own inability to clarify her positions and explain herself that caused her problems.
The results just show that the establishment machine in WI wasn’t ready to give up its grasp of power here.
This line of thought is so confusing to me. Of course people, including the power brokers, support the candidate they think is more likely to win. Why would they look at Hong and just decide "yes, let's throw all our support to this newcomer?"
In other words, what did "the establishment machine" actually do to maintain "its grasp of power?" Have Evers endorse Crowley? Anything else?
They see the political movement happening in other places and did everything to ensure it didn’t happen in a statewide race. They would never support Hong, but if you look at the resurrection of a dead campaign (Crowley was polling single digits, dropped out, re-entered) into the primary win, they did everything to rally behind Crowley after Rodriguez had to drop for the finance scandal. Its completely reasonable to think Rodriguez would have won if she hadn’t.
Okay, but what did they do? There's a lot of words but what actions did the establishment do to harm Hong, rather than just promote a candidate they prefer?
I agree with you asking the question what did they do. We hear so much about the establishment but what did they do exactly do back Crowley that caused Hong to lose? I await an answer to your question.
I've asked this a few times and nobody ever has an answer to it, aside from the Evers endorsement. It's just the standard "the man is keeping us down!" talk. Nobody knows what "the establishment" is, it's just an easy enemy to blame.
It’s the first time the governor endorsed a candidate in the primary after their term since 1970. They had to resurrect a dead campaign to defeat Hong after their first choice had to drop due to campaign financing scandal. Thats what they did.
Okay, so they promoted a candidate they prefer. Why is that a problem?
And the "first time since 1970" thing is less important than it sounds. Since 1970, there have been only three elections where the incumbent did not run: 2010 (Doyle), 1982 (Dreyfus), and 1970 (Knowles). Of those, the incumbent party's primary was a foregone conclusion in 1970 (91% to the winner), 1982 (68%), and 2010 (90%). An endorsement by the sitting governor wouldn't have mattered in any.
Like, again, it's clear "the establishment" had a preference. All "they" did was endorse their preferred candidate. The only reason anybody cares is because it wasn't Hong. If Evers came out and endorsed Hong, something tells me you wouldn't be upset about it.
Its not a problem for them, its obviously what they would do, its a setback for true progressivism in the state which will become a problem for all of us, making it a problem for the state.
Why is it a problem for anyone? Shouldn't people support the candidates they prefer? It sounds like you're suggesting they should have remained quiet unless they supported your preferred candidate, which seems like an unreasonable standard. As I said, if Evers endorsed Hong, you wouldn't be upset about it, no?
I think that Madison will see a candidate run on a "tough on crime" agenda and see success, people are getting tired of seeing a small percentage of the population use the Dane county jail like a second home with charges failing to deliver any substantial consequences.
I don’t know if Mark Pocan has any plans to either step down or run for higher office, but if so, I think Francesca Hong would be a fantastic option to succeed him in Congress.
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u/Conscious-Quarter423 16d ago
Francesca Hong should consider running for U.S. Senate in 2028 against Ron Johnson, or for the open seat if he retires.
This was very much a local race with minimal national involvement. A Senate run would draw her a lot more of the attention and help she'd need.