Francesca Hong has surged to the top of Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial primary and won endorsements from progressives including Ilhan Omar and Ro Khanna, while major national progressives such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have so far withheld endorsements. Prediction markets and polls favor Hong for the primary but raise questions about her general-election prospects against Republican Tom Tiffany. Critics have seized on past social-media remarks about Thanksgiving and ICE, and the primary’s outcome will test whether progressive nominees can win statewide in November.
Top Progressives Hold Back Endorsements As Francesca Hong Leads Turbulent Wisconsin Primary
Wisconsin Gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong (L) listen to Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) speak before being introduced during a campaign rally on August 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Joshua Lott/Getty Images)
Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong has emerged as the frontrunner in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, drawing national attention — and guarded responses — from prominent progressive leaders as the party navigates a volatile primary season.
Progressive Endorsements And Silences
Hong has secured endorsements from progressive U.S. Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and attracted national attention when Omar spoke at a Milwaukee campaign event on Aug. 2, 2026. But several high-profile progressives have so far declined to weigh in publicly. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she has focused her efforts on congressional races and has not endorsed in the Wisconsin contest. Sen. Bernie Sanders told Pod Save America he was "not that familiar" with the governor's race, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren told Politico, "I don't know her." Ocasio-Cortez also defended Hong when critics highlighted some of Hong's earlier remarks, saying Hong has revised some positions.
Polling, Prediction Markets And General-Election Concerns
Polling and prediction markets show Hong likely to win the Democratic primary: prediction-market platform Kalshi put her odds at roughly 95.5 percent ahead of the primary. Still, polls indicate a tougher general election matchup against the presumptive Republican nominee, Rep. Tom Tiffany. A Marquette Law School poll showed Hong trailing Tiffany by a few points, and internal surveys cited in reporting suggested some erosion of steadfast Democratic support heading into November.
Party Reaction And Opposition Tactics
Governor Tony Evers, who endorsed Hong's chief rival Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, declined to commit to campaigning with or endorsing Hong if she wins the primary; when asked whether she could prevail in November, he responded "probably not," according to reporting in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Politico. Republican-aligned groups have already targeted Hong: an ad from Right Direction Wisconsin, linked to the Republican Governors Association, framed her as too liberal and highlighted past calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Controversial Past Remarks And Campaign Dynamics
Hong has faced criticism for past social-media posts, including a 2020 comment describing Thanksgiving as "celebrating colonialism." She gave a nuanced reply on CNN when asked whether she wanted to "cancel Thanksgiving," and later told Politico Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday — a reversal that has become a focal point for opponents and media coverage. The primary also reshaped the Democratic field: Crowley briefly suspended his campaign and endorsed Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez before re-entering the race after Rodriguez's exit; Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes later dropped out, citing Hong's lead.
Wider Implications For The Progressive Movement
Observers say national progressives may be cautious about intervening in a state-level contest outside their districts — a common practice — but some analysts also suggest hesitancy stems from recent high-profile nominee controversies in other states. The Michigan Senate primary, where Abdul El-Sayed won a narrower-than-expected race and now faces a close general-election contest, is another test of whether progressive nominees can translate primary momentum into November wins.
What To Watch: Will national progressives coalesce around Hong if she secures the nomination? Can Hong pivot from primary strength to broader appeal in November? And how will Republican attacks shape the general-election narrative in a closely watched Midwestern state?
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