Francesca Hong, a Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor, does not recall authoring a 2021 social media post that stated "Abolish the Senate," her campaign told Fox News Digital. The campaign asserts that the post, which resurfaced amid criticism from Republican rival Tom Tiffany, does not reflect Hong's current position.
Tiffany, a Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor, has linked Hong to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), pointing to a viral video where DSA co-chair Megan Romer discussed the organization's platform, which includes proposals to eliminate the U.S. Senate. Tiffany suggested Hong aligns with these ideas, writing on X that she "believed in all the ideas mentioned."
Hong's campaign communications director, Allison Geyer, stated that Tiffany was misrepresenting Hong's views. "Rep. Hong has never called for abolishing the U.S. Senate. Tiffany cannot produce a single statement where she did, because it doesn't exist," Geyer said. Geyer also clarified that while Hong has spoken about police and prison abolition as aspirational goals in the past, it is not her current position, nor is it something she would pursue as governor. She added that eliminating national borders is not Hong's position and is not part of the official DSA platform.
The post in question was made on February 13, 2021, in response to the Senate's vote to acquit then-President Donald Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The campaign explained that the post was a "frustrated reaction" to an analysis showing senators who voted to convict represented a majority of the country's population. "It is not her current position, and it is not something a governor has any role in," the campaign stated. "She’s running to lower costs, fund public schools, and make childcare affordable."
According to the campaign, Hong's views on the matter have been clarified in recent interviews. While not endorsed by the national DSA, Hong's campaign website lists the Milwaukee, Northeast Wisconsin, and Madison DSA chapters among her endorsements.
Tiffany, in a statement to Fox News Digital, maintained his stance, saying, "Democrat Socialist Francesca Hong can flip-flop all she wants, but she can’t hide who she is. She’s a card-carrying socialist who called to abolish the police, ICE, and even the U.S. Senate. Now her campaign is trying to rewrite her record because they know her ideas are too radical for Wisconsin, but they can’t rewrite her own words."