Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent member of "The Squad," has advised voters in Wisconsin to assess gubernatorial candidate Rep. Francesca Hong based on her current positions, rather than her past calls to defund the police. Ocasio-Cortez made these remarks on Sunday while declining to endorse Hong in the upcoming Aug. 11 primary.
"My understanding is that Francesca Hong has made clear her present stances to her electorate," Ocasio-Cortez told ABC News' "This Week." She referenced a saying from Councilmember Chi Ossé, "Woke 1 was crazy," and stated, "I think that what’s important is that we have to assess what a candidate is saying now."
Ocasio-Cortez suggested that the rhetoric during the "Woke 1" period, partly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, was different from current discussions on criminal justice. "I think that during lockdown, of course, rhetoric in that time is not rhetoric that we would use today," she said, adding that the conversation around crime has evolved.
Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), holds a significant double-digit lead in polls over her opponent, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Republicans have expressed optimism that Hong will win the primary, citing her past statements, including calls to abolish the police and remarks about Thanksgiving.
When previously asked about her 2021 comments suggesting a desire to "cancel Thanksgiving," Hong stated that the holiday "is also a time that’s incredibly painful for many people in our communities." Following backlash, she issued a statement clarifying that she did not intend to eliminate the holiday.
Ocasio-Cortez reiterated her focus on broader electoral goals, stating, "I haven’t endorsed in that race. My focus has been in winning back the Congress, winning back the House, and positioning ourselves to have the best chance possible to win the Senate."