Francesca Hong, the democratic socialist leading Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, held a rally in South Milwaukee on August 2 with U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and Twitch commentator Hasan Piker, drawing about 1,300 supporters to the gymnasium at South Milwaukee High School just nine days before the Aug. 11 primary election.
Hong, who is cementing her frontrunner status in the race, walked into the event wearing her signature blue pantsuit to the sound of Wisconsin’s anthem “Jump Around,” with attendees shouting “That’s my governor!” as she took the podium. Throughout the two-hour rally, Hong and her guests sought to address a central question shadowing her campaign: whether she can translate her grassroots momentum into defeating Republican Tom Tiffany in November.
Omar, who endorsed Hong in April, told the crowd that Hong would become a historic “first” as the first woman and Asian American elected Wisconsin governor. “She is not running to make history, but because she knows people in Wisconsin need a relentless fighter in their corner,” Omar said.
Piker, introducing Omar, referenced Wisconsin’s sewer socialist history and said the state is where the American socialist movement began. “A Republican will never be elected in this state ever again, once our movement is done,” he said. Hong had previously joined Piker on his Twitch stream in June, an event that raised around $60,000 for her campaign. Piker indicated at the time he could travel to Wisconsin to campaign for her, and on August 2 said he had campaigned for U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan the day prior.
Hong’s decision to campaign with Piker drew criticism from Republicans, who pointed to previous comments they described as controversial. Republican Tom Tiffany said in a statement that Hong was “choosing to campaign with individuals who said America ‘deserved 9/11,’ called communism the ‘honorable end goal,’ and believe capitalists should be killed.” Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, now running in second place, had been the first Democrat in the race to say he would not appear with Piker, calling his comments “beyond the pale.”
When asked by reporters if campaigning with Omar and Piker was a risk, Hong said the risk instead lay in “not building the broadest coalition possible.” Inside the gymnasium, attendees skewed young and mostly under 40. According to the latest Marquette University Law School poll, 66% of voters ages 18 to 29 supported Hong.
Hong’s rally came as she has expanded her lead following recent chaos in the Democratic primary. According to the latest Marquette poll, Hong leads with 38%, with just over a third of voters undecided. Mandela Barnes, who had been running in second place, dropped out of the race late last week following reporting by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel into allegations that he had taken advantage of his role in the party to have sexual encounters with young adult women. His exit moved Crowley into second place.
Crowley, backed by Governor Tony Evers and endorsed by U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, is hitting the trail with a message centered on experience and results. A Crowley spokesperson said on August 2 that while Hong rallies supporters already in her corner, Crowley is traveling across the state to meet undecided voters. Hong, meanwhile, has appeared on Fox News and shown signs of moderating her message, including backing away from previous comments on defunding police during the primary’s only televised debate.
Hong told supporters at the South Milwaukee rally to be “radically welcoming” to people not yet ready for democratic socialism. At one point, she said she would “meet U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with the force and fury required to keep us all safe,” prompting the crowd to chant in response. Early, in-person absentee voting is underway through next Sunday, with polls opening 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on August 11.
Sources
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — details of the August 2 rally, crowd composition, Hong’s statements, Omar and Piker remarks, Crowley’s campaign strategy, and primary dynamics
- Wisconsin Examiner — confirmation of the rally with Omar and Piker at South Milwaukee High School
- Marquette University Law School Poll — Hong’s 38% lead, voter age breakdown showing 66% of 18-29 year-olds supporting Hong, undecided voter share
- WPR (Wisconsin Public Radio) — State Navigate poll showing Hong at 44% with Crowley at 15%
