Socialist Francesca Hong on How She'll Win in a State Trump Carried Twice

Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old Democratic socialist state representative from Madison, is poised to win the Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin, a state President Donald Trump has carried in both 2016 and 2024. Hong, who still works as a barista, claims that her experiences on the front lines of the economy expose her to the realities that escape cable news.

Her campaign platform centers around "permanent affordability," which includes free childcare, fully funding public schools, higher taxes on the wealthy, and a moratorium on new data centers. Hong argues that Wisconsin has shifted from the state it was two years ago, with everyday people struggling more due to factors like gas prices, property taxes, and grocery bills.

She has organized over 300 events and traveled nearly 50,000 miles to campaign, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the hardships faced by working-class citizens. Republicans and other Democrats have questioned her ability to win in November, but Hong remains optimistic, viewing the increased anger among working-class individuals as a driving force for change.