Republicans Target Francesca Hong in Wisconsin Governor’s Race

Republicans believe Francesca Hong is their weakest opponent in the upcoming general election. They are investing $2.2 million to support her primary campaign.

Many Democrats are concerned that state Representative Francesca Hong, known for her strong left-wing views, could win the primary and subsequently lose the governor’s race to the Republicans.

A super PAC associated with Republicans is actively funding television ads to promote Francesca Hong as a Democratic candidate for governor in Wisconsin. These ads, costing $2.2 million, seem aimed at increasing her visibility and support ahead of the August primary.

Some Democrats in Wisconsin worry about Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, emerging from the primary in a state known for its political balance. They fear she might lose to the likely Republican candidate, Representative Tom Tiffany, in November.

Republicans, sharing this perspective, have taken action. The political action committee Right Direction Wisconsin, tied to the Republican Governors Association, launched a new advertisement targeting Francesca Hong. This 30-second ad, set to air on Thursday in predominantly liberal areas like Madison and Milwaukee, accuses Hong of being excessively liberal, a tactic aimed at increasing her appeal among Democratic primary voters.

Both parties have employed similar misleading approaches in primaries across the country this year, attempting to elevate candidates they see as weaker opponents in general elections.

Joe Zepecki, a Democratic strategist in Wisconsin not supporting any primary candidate, criticized the Republicans for this move. He described it as a “pathetic” effort to overshadow their own electoral challenges in the state. Zepecki emphasized, “Every Democratic campaign for governor, including Hong’s, should highlight this as what it is: a sneaky, underhanded, deliberate attempt to interfere with the democratic process.”