Wisconsin Governor Primary Puts Francesca Hong Under National Scrutiny — Primaries Spark High-Stakes Fallout

Welcome to this week's edition of the Surge, Slate's politics newsletter. After a consequential week of primaries and personnel battles, national attention has focused on down-ballot contests and notable confirmations that will shape the coming fall campaign season.

Francesca Hong Faces Intense Scrutiny

The national spotlight has shifted to Francesca Hong, the democratic socialist who leads the polls heading into Tuesday's Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary. A resurfaced 2020 tweet urging the cancellation of Thanksgiving forced her to address past remarks — she gave an evasive response in a CNN interview and later told Politico that Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday, adding, "I don't want to cancel it; I actually love it."

Hong rose by consolidating left-leaning primary voters around a populist economic platform emphasizing expanded social services, higher taxes on the wealthy, and opposition to data-center development. Now, as a frontrunner, her record and social-media history are under closer national examination — a familiar risk for candidates who break out from crowded fields. It is worth noting that gubernatorial contests often attract more flexible general-election voters than presidential or Senate races, so local dynamics will matter in the fall.

Michigan Senate Primary: Narrow Progressive Win

Michigan's long-anticipated Democratic Senate primary finally concluded this week. Progressive Abdul El-Sayed edged out moderate Rep. Haley Stevens by roughly one point, a much closer result than many polls predicted. That narrow margin makes rapid outreach and party unity essential. Party leaders — including El-Sayed, Stevens, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee — moved quickly to rally around the nominee. Republicans have signaled they will highlight El-Sayed's faith in the general election campaign.

Todd Blanche and the Attorney General Confirmation

By midday Friday, the Senate appeared poised to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general after he formally rescinded an order creating a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, which removed opposition from two Republican senators in committee. The White House then needed one of Senators Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, or Susan Collins to back Blanche. Collins and Murkowski declined; Cassidy ultimately provided the decisive vote, framing his choice as a comparison between an imperfect Blanche and the risk of a less effective acting attorney general serving under President Trump.

Cassidy’s decision drew criticism from some conservatives and is likely to leave political friction between him and parts of the Republican base, even as the administration secures its preferred nominee.

House Rumbles: Scandals and Departures

One House Republican, Rep. Chuck Edwards (North Carolina), dropped his reelection bid amid scandal. Party leaders had hoped for multiple withdrawals to ease November strategy, but Ohio Rep. Max Miller has so far refused to step aside. Miller faces allegations tied to his divorce and child-custody dispute, which he denies; his former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno, publicly urged him to resign. Miller missed a Wednesday deadline that would have triggered a special primary; local GOP officials could select a replacement for the ballot if he withdraws by the upcoming Monday deadline.

Jeanine Pirro and the Reflecting Pool Filing

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro drew attention when she stated in a court filing that damage to the National Mall Reflecting Pool resulted from a botched installation rather than vandalism. She made the assertion while seeking dismissal of a felony charge against former Olympian David Hearn, who had been accused of ripping pool liner. The candid filing reportedly angered former President Trump. Pirro later presented evidence in a White House meeting with Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to shift responsibility toward the Interior Department, and for now she remains in her post.

Primary Upsets and Local Surprises

Michigan’s 8th Congressional District produced a surprising Republican primary result: Trump-backed Navy veteran Amir Hassan lost to Thomas Smith, a low-profile candidate who had briefly suspended his campaign and endorsed another contender. Smith’s modest Federal Election Commission filing underscored how unusual the outcome was in a low-turnout contest.

In Tennessee, Rep. Andy Ogles — a Freedom Caucus member who had drawn scrutiny for inflammatory social-media remarks and ongoing campaign-finance questions — lost his primary to former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher. Factors included Hatcher’s fundraising advantage and a newly redrawn district that, according to the Associated Press, introduced a large number of new voters into the electorate.

Bottom line: This week’s results reinforce that the fall campaign will feature fierce scrutiny of frontrunners’ records, close primary margins that require rapid party consolidation, and unpredictable local dynamics that can reshape competitive House and gubernatorial races.