Francesca Hong’s Call to Defund and Abolish Police Sparks Debate in Wisconsin Governor Race

Francesca Hong, a Democratic socialist running for governor in Wisconsin, previously advocated to defund and abolish the police. During her political career, Hong has consistently voiced her stance against current policing practices.

Hong took to social media, especially following high-profile cases like the deaths of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake, to express her position. In an August 2020 post, reported by CNN, Hong stated, “I support defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police.”

Jacob Blake is fighting for his life, Hong commented on X, formerly known as Twitter, referencing Blake, who was left partially paralyzed after being shot seven times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The incident occurred during a response to a domestic disturbance call in 2020, leading to widespread protests.

A pocket knife fell from Blake’s pocket during the altercation; he picked it up before being shot. As an elected official, Hong later commented in October 2021 when federal prosecutors decided against charging Officer Rusten Sheskey for the shooting.

She stated, How is 7 bullets in the back not excessive force? Criticizing systemic issues, she argued that reform can’t be an option and reiterated her call to Defund then abolish the police.

In a message to Fox News Digital, Hong appeared to retract from earlier assertions but did not specify her policy as governor regarding police funding. She clarified, There is no way I want to cut resources for public safety. I don’t like crime. I don’t like unsafe streets. I also don’t like when a member of law enforcement abuses their power.

Expressing her commitment to safety, she continued, Everyone deserves the resources they need to be safe, including housing, good-paying jobs, mental health supports, and community resources. As governor, I will look at every part of the state and work with local leaders to shape solutions that address our immediate needs.

Hong is endorsed by Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and faces tough competition in the Democratic primary scheduled for August 11. Her main opponent is Mandela Barnes, former Lieutenant Governor and a recent U.S. Senate candidate.

The winner will likely oppose Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, a leading figure in his party’s nomination race. Tiffany has criticized both Hong and Barnes for their progressive stances, stating, This is what today’s Democrat Party has become. Whether it’s Francesca Hong doubling down on abolishing the police or Mandela Barnes calling to empty prisons while pushing to end cash bail, they are both far-left radicals who care more about protecting criminals than the innocent people harmed by their crimes.

Tiffany’s campaign highlighted Barnes’ past advocacy to significantly reduce the prison population and end cashless bail, although no recent comments from Barnes were available.