It’s inevitable: Democrat Francesca Hong is likely to become the gubernatorial nominee, which has increased GOP chances of retaking the governor’s mansion. Many are celebrating, but while I support Democrats turning on their own amid this socialist insurgency, which they cannot fully combat due to limited resources, you can’t dismiss this race. Despite the betting markets and internal polls, it remains winnable for a woman who is to the left of Lenin.
No, I’m not getting nervous per se about the socialist wave. For starters, this is a Democrat problem; it’s their primaries, and there’s nothing we can do. Their establishment doesn’t like it, and the candidates from that field will hit a ceiling eventually, and it won’t be pretty. It’s the basic fact about our system: oftentimes the other guys win, and socialists will clinch some general election wins here, but where?
Wisconsin could be it. The GOP has a trove of insane things she’s said about police, white people, and the like—she’s a hardcore lefty; she doesn’t hide from it. She also doesn’t eschew speaking with people with whom she shares nothing in common politically. Hong is apparently very gifted at voter outreach, personable, and a solid retail candidate who could clinch cross-party appeal if she plays her cards right. It’s a big ‘if,’ one of those ‘cards align’ situations that could happen.
Hong has spoken with many conservative Republicans and hardcore Trump supporters; she did not present herself as a far-left radical. When told, these voters shrugged and said she was a nice lady. One three-time Trump voter in Wisconsin supports her despite her anti-data-center stance. Republicans can't rely on past insanity. If there’s anything to learn from the Graham Platner circus in Maine, it’s that Democrats are willing to tolerate almost anything, except rape allegations. But Nazi tattoos, a graphic social media history, and extreme left-wing policy positions won’t be enough. In fact, recycling Hong’s past social media posts might even strengthen left-wing support for her.
You need to be aware of any candidate who has the gift of the gab and can reach across party lines, which Hong has surprisingly done.
Now, Republicans have a strategy to counter this: ignore her social media posts, which will only strengthen Democrat support. We saw this in Maine. Instead, focus on why she’s concerned about data centers. Does she genuinely oppose them, or is it because they offer political cover since they’re highly unpopular across party lines in the state? That’s why these candidates stick to issues like affordability. Once again, those issues resonate and capture voters' attention.
Ironically, as the WNBA grapples with the transgender athlete issue raised by the Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham, questions about men competing in women’s sports are emerging. Unlike data centers, the public mostly opposes the far-left stance on this issue, which has led to a poor pivot toward discussing minimum wage. It was off-topic and poorly transitioned.
Ditch the Hong posts, hammer her on this stuff, because, as you can see, they’ll race to minimum wage/affordability since that’s the playbook: harp on those matters that shield their insanity, a Trojan Horse move that can be chipped away easily.
Hong is eminently beatable but cannot be overlooked. If she fizzles after the primaries, so be it, and better for us, but nothing is a cakewalk right now.
