Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has urged Republicans in the state not to cross party lines to vote for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong in the upcoming primary, warning that she would be "very dangerous" if elected governor.
Wisconsin law permits open primaries, allowing voters to cast ballots in either party's contest. Polls indicate that Hong, 37, holds a significant lead over her Democratic opponents, including Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.
Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), has faced scrutiny over past remarks. In November 2021, she suggested getting rid of Thanksgiving due to its “colonialist” undertones. When questioned on CNN, Hong initially stated the holiday is "incredibly painful for many people" before asserting she had no intention of abolishing it. She has also stated she would not abolish the police, a position that contrasts with some past calls for defunding law enforcement.
During a Fox News interview last month, Hong stood by elements of the DSA platform and declined to disavow streamer Hasan Piker, who made controversial remarks about 9/11 in 2019.
Despite her strong position in the primary, neither Sen. Bernie Sanders nor Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed Hong.
In contrast, Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany is heavily favored to win the GOP nomination. Walker indicated his support for Tiffany, along with Will Martin for lieutenant governor and Eric Toney for attorney general. Walker stated that Tiffany can defeat either Hong or Crowley by focusing on issues like cutting red tape, limiting spending, and lowering property taxes, arguing that the Democratic candidates' "radical views" would increase costs for Wisconsinites.