Francesca Hong’s Approach to Police Reform Amid Gubernatorial Race

Wisconsin State Representative and democratic socialist Francesca Hong, a leading candidate in the Democratic primary for governor, faced questions regarding her stance on policing at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Despite previously advocating for the abolition of police, Hong emphasized the need to maintain law enforcement funding during a televised debate.

“This system is not working,” Hong remarked. She insisted on investing in solutions known to prevent crime rather than eliminating police. When Politico reporter Jonathan Martin inquired about her long-term views on abolishing the police, Hong did not provide a direct answer. Instead, she advocated for “systems of care” and reallocating criminal justice funds, before being escorted away by a campaign aide.

Hong stated, “I believe we have to be serious about public safety, and I intend to be a governor more focused on that than anyone else.” Her communications director, Allison Geyer, clarified Hong’s unchanged commitment to using police and prison abolition as a guiding goal, akin to tackling poverty or disease.

During a debate earlier, moderators asked Hong and her four Democratic rivals whether they would endorse a state budget that slashes police funding. None of the candidates, including Hong, supported such a measure. She argued, “The governor cannot defund police, and I am not here to govern by slogan.” Her aim is to prioritize public safety seriously.

This exchange brought attention to Hong’s past comments following the 2020 police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha. In a 2021 social media post, she stated, “Defund then abolish,” expressing her belief that police institutions uphold white supremacy. Although she addressed these views in a statement, she did not confirm whether her stance on abolishing the police had changed.

Hong’s platform supports noncarceral crime-prevention initiatives, reentry services, and stricter gun control measures. Although her public-safety section does not endorse dissolving police departments or decreasing their budgets, her rise in popularity is notable. A recent Marquette Law School poll showed her at 38% among Democratic primary voters.

Concerns exist within the Democratic party regarding Hong’s potential match against the expected Republican nominee, Rep. Tom Tiffany. Advertising from the Republican Governors Association aims to characterize Hong as “dangerously liberal” to influence primary voters.

Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki criticized Republican efforts as attempts to manipulate the election outcome. Joel Brennan, another Democratic nominee, contested Hong’s positions as extreme and out of sync with Wisconsin’s mainstream values. The Republican campaign has invested around $3.6 million in advertising to emphasize these differences.