Francesca Hong, a candidate for Wisconsin governor, is facing scrutiny over past social media statements, including one from 2020 suggesting Thanksgiving should be canceled due to its "colonialist" roots and its association with the "original superspreader event" that harmed Indigenous people. Hong, a Democratic socialist, has also drawn attention for previous calls to "defund the police" and "abolish" law enforcement.
When questioned about her past remarks on Thanksgiving by CNN's Kaitlan Collins, Hong did not directly state whether she still believed the holiday should be canceled. Instead, she spoke about her background as a chef and the importance of hospitality and community building. She acknowledged that Thanksgiving can be a "painful" time for many and stated that views can evolve. Hong suggested her experience as a chef could help her connect with more people as governor.
Her response to the Thanksgiving question, along with her prior stances on policing, have drawn criticism on social media, with some users calling her statements divisive. Despite these controversies, Hong has emerged as a frontrunner in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, leading polls with 38% support, according to a Marquette University Law School poll.
In the past, Hong has made statements such as "Police exist to uphold white supremacy. Defund then abolish. Reform can't be a option." However, more recently, she has sought to clarify her current positions. In a post on X, she stated, "Once again: I am not running to defund the police. And to be clear, the governor cannot defund the police. My administration will prioritize public safety & justice for victims." When asked by Collins if she intended to abolish police or prisons, Hong indicated she was "not interested in abolishing prisons" or police if elected.
Another past social media post that has resurfaced involved Hong's experience at a Culver's restaurant in 2019. She wrote that she left due to anxiety caused by "too many old white people who didn't think we spoke English." In response to this post being recirculated, Hong reiterated her critique of Culver's fries but did not directly address her comments about the other patrons.