Francesca Hong Leads Wisconsin Democratic Gubernatorial Primary

State Representative Francesca Hong, a dues‑paying member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is ahead in Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor scheduled for Aug. 11, 2026. Polls released by Marquette Law School show Hong with a solid lead over former lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes, who withdrew from the race, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who re‑entered after a brief exit and is backed by outgoing Governor Tony Evers.

Hong, a 37‑year‑old former restaurant worker, has drawn strong grassroots support in Madison and Milwaukee while facing criticism from establishment Democrats and aggressive attack ads from the Republican Governors Association. Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the likely GOP nominee, has framed the contest as a choice between “common sense” and “radical socialism.”

During recent television interviews, Hong was pressed on past DSA‑aligned statements calling for defunding the police, abolishing ICE and even abolishing the Senate. She has sought to distance herself from the most extreme proposals, describing some as “nonsensical” and emphasizing a focus on working‑class families, affordable housing, health care and child care. If she secures the nomination, Hong could become Wisconsin’s first female and Asian‑American governor.