Francesca Hong, a candidate for Wisconsin governor and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is facing renewed attention for past remarks about Thanksgiving. In 2020, Hong tweeted that the holiday, which she described as "celebrating colonialism," should have been canceled.
During a recent interview with CNN, Hong addressed the 2020 tweet, stating that Thanksgiving is "incredibly painful for many people in our communities." She also drew on her background as a chef and restaurant owner, suggesting her hospitality experience would help her "bring more people to the table" as governor. However, she faced further questions about her views on the holiday.
In a subsequent interview with Politico, Hong stated that Thanksgiving is her "favorite holiday" and that she "loves it," a statement that contrasted with her earlier remarks. This shift in messaging has led to criticism from political opponents and commentators. David Axelrod, a former advisor to President Obama, commented on X (formerly Twitter), "It’s answers like these than cause many to think if this chef wins the gubernatorial primary in WI, Ds may be cooked."
The original tweet from 2020, which has since been deleted, read: "Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621. If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed Indigenous folx and women so be it." The tweet used gender-neutral spelling for "folks."
Hong, who made history in 2020 as the first Asian American elected to the Wisconsin State Legislature, has also faced scrutiny for past statements on policing. In 2020, she reportedly wrote on social media that "police exist to uphold white supremacy" and that she supported "defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police." She has since stated that her views on public safety have evolved and that she is "serious about public safety and I will not abolish the police."
Commentators have suggested that candidates associated with the DSA platform, such as Hong, may hold more radical views, citing comments from party officials about potentially abolishing borders, prisons, and the Senate. Critics argue that Hong's attempts to moderate her public image are a response to political pressure and the perceived unviability of her earlier stances in a broader election.
Before entering politics, Hong worked as a chef and owned a restaurant. She announced her candidacy for governor of Wisconsin via an Instagram post.
