Madison, Wisconsin (AP) – A democratic legislator that promises to be a “Wild Card”, entered Wisconsin’s open race for the governor on Wednesday and explains that she will concentrate on a progressive agenda to benefit the working class.
The Rep. Francesca Hong, who lives in the liberal capital Madison, takes on its outsider status. Hong not only serves in the state assembly, but also works as a bartender, dishwasher and line chef. As a single mother, who has to struggle with the search for affordable living space, she said that she was unique as a candidate.
“I like to consider myself a wild card,” said Hong. “Our campaign will deal with strategies and movement structure and ensure that we are creative in terms of our digital strategies.”
Part of her goal is to expand the electorate to expand voters that were not involved in previous elections, she said.
The 36-year-old Hong joins a field that has no clear front manager. Others terminated democratic candidates, including Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez, the leading employee of Milwaukee County, David Crowley, and the Senator Kelda Roys. Consider additional democrats, including the Attorney General Josh Kaul.
On the Republican side, the managing director of Washington County and the business owner of suburb Milwaukee, Bill Berrien, are the only announced candidates. To consider running other Republicans, including the US MP Tom Tiffany and the President of the Senate, Mary Felzkowski.
The race for governor Tony Evers, who will retire after two terms, is open for the first time since 2010 without incumbent.
Hong is the most pronounced democrat that joins the field. It is known that she uses profanity when she tries to take a point, especially on social media.
Hong is one of four Democrats in Wisconsin’s meeting, which are also members of the socialist caucus.
“We meet a moment when a movement and no establishment candidate are required,” she said.
She promised to make the workers of the working class the center of her campaign and at the same time to achieve advanced guidelines. This includes the support of universal childcare, paid vacation, lower health costs, improvement in wages for employees at home and the appropriate financing of public schools.
Like other Democrats in the breed, Hong is very critical of the government and policy of President Donald Trump.
“It is important not to call the administration as an administration, but authoritarian who aims at increasing the mass disorders and damaging families of the working class throughout the state,” said Hong. “Many communities are afraid of their families, for their communities, how they continue to make ends meet when they worry about health care and salaries.”
Hong was elected to the State Assembly in 2020 and ran unhindered both in 2022 and 2024.
The democratic area code is 11 months away in August 2026, and the general elections will follow in November.
