Francesca Hong, a leading Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has reversed her previous calls to defund and abolish the police. In a recent podcast interview, Hong stated that she is now "serious about public safety" and "will not abolish the police."
Hong's past statements, including a 2020 tweet asserting that "police exist to uphold white supremacy" and that she supported "defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police," were raised during an appearance on Pod Save America. When asked how her views on policing had evolved, Hong responded that she has learned it is most important for a public servant to focus on "sensible, practical solutions that will help keep communities safe."
She added that her focus is on "stopping violent crime and giving law enforcement the resources and the training that they need, but ensure we are also holding accountable law enforcement that does not follow the law." Pressed on whether she still believed police uphold white supremacy, Hong directly answered, "No."
Hong explained that her thinking has changed through conversations with people more directly connected to the issues, including mothers who have lost children to police violence and individuals from historically marginalized communities. She characterized her previous comment about fantasizing about a "world without prisons" as more aspirational.
This shift in position comes as Hong's past controversial statements have resurfaced. In addition to her remarks on policing, a 2020 post urging people to "Cancel Thanksgiving" due to its colonial history has also drawn attention. In a recent CNN appearance, when asked if she still believed Thanksgiving should be canceled, Hong stated that while it is a painful time for many, "views can evolve."
Hong, who also authored a 2019 post detailing an anxiety attack amidst "too many old white people who didn’t think we spoke English," emphasized her commitment to supporting working-class families and addressing the material conditions of people's lives.