Photo: Ballotpedia
Francesca Hong
DemocraticState Representative
Who is Francesca Hong?
Wisconsin State Assembly member representing District 76 (Madison, since 2021); former chef and restaurant owner; born November 4, 1988; first Asian American elected to Wisconsin Legislature; single mother
Republicans spending $2.2M in ads targeting Hong, suggesting they view her as their preferred opponent
Where does Francesca Hong stand on the issues?
Hong's $2 billion plan emphasizes using state funds for construction projects with local, union labor and apprenticeship programs to create jobs.
Position sources (1)
- campaignFrancesca Hong
Hong supports fully funding public education as part of her progressive platform.
Position sources (1)
- campaignWisconsin Public Radio
Hong supports transitioning toward carbon-free power, proposing $750 million for union labor projects expanding solar and wind and improving the grid, and green industry apprenticeships.
Position sources (1)
- campaignFrancesca Hong
Hong proposes expanding state-provided veteran benefits especially in healthcare, prioritizing veteran mental health support, and streamlining the state healthcare assistance program to make it easier for veterans to apply for and receive aid.
Position sources (1)
- campaignFrancesca Hong
Hong proposes committing $250 million through a public bank to an affordable housing fund and creating an affordable housing zoning overlay to simplify permitting and reduce construction costs.
Position sources (1)
- campaignFrancesca Hong
Hong introduced a five-bill "Keep Families Together" package aimed at using Wisconsin state authority to limit ICE enforcement, including bans on state facilities being used for immigration detention, ending 287(g) agreements, and funding immigration legal services. She frames the effort as protecting immigrant communities from what she describes as unconstitutional ICE tactics.
Position sources (1)
- campaignFrancesca Hong
Hong supports legislation requiring law enforcement to identify themselves during arrests, banning face coverings used to conceal identity, and restricting local police collaboration with federal immigration enforcement. Violations of the identification requirement would be a felony.
Position sources (1)
- campaignFrancesca Hong
Hong opposes tax breaks for AI data center construction, describing them as a costly waste of public money that should be redirected to other infrastructure priorities.
Position sources (1)
- campaignFrancesca Hong
In their own words
“It turns out folks are pretty excited about taxing the rich, too,”
“I abhor political violence, continue to be the target of threats of political violence and have condemned violent rhetoric on multiple occasions”
“The person who wins the most votes is the most electable”
“Wisconsin voters care more about solutions than labels.”
“Republicans have made it so that we think government has to be dysfunctional, but the policies that we're running on make government a force of good”
Show all 7 quotes
“Families are getting crushed by the cost of living, and this campaign is meeting them where they are with real solutions. We’re just getting started.”
“Fran has introduced the “Keep Families Together” package — five bills that would use Wisconsin’s state authority to protect our communities from ICE’s unconstitutional tactics.”
Top reported contributors
- Robert Clancy (Bradenton)$20,000
- Ethan Schrag (Milwaukee)$11,276
- Melody Hanson (Madison)$10,500
- Kathleen Chung (Madison)$7,488
- Hasan Piker (Los Angeles)$7,000
Show 5 more
- Jun Wai Lee (Madison)$7,000
- Thomas M Neujahr (Madison)$7,000
- Thomas Preston-Werner (Palo Alto)$7,000
- Seanna Whalen (Madison)$6,000
- Catherine Howley (San Francisco)$5,950
Source: WI Ethics Commission (Sunshine) · non-commercial voter education use
Top organization & PAC donors
- Southwest Airlines (Dallas)$1,015
- Friends of Marsha Rummel (Madison)Unregistered$1,000
- Mike Fong for Assembly (Encino)Unregistered$250
- Fun Time Bounces (Stoughton)$208
- Friends of Jessica Seawright (Milwaukee)PAC/Committee$200
Show 5 more
- Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (Roseland)$126
- Friends of Jacqui Guthrie (Madison)Unregistered$100
- The Lismore Hotel (Eau Claire)$57
- American Airlines (Fort Worth)$28
- Jotform Inc. (San Francisco)$7
Source: WI Ethics Commission (Sunshine) · non-commercial voter education use
Political ads about Francesca Hong
Ads a BadgerBrief editor confirmed are about Francesca Hong, from the Meta Ad Library. Spend is the range Meta discloses.
- Support$100–$199
Francesca Hong for Wisconsin
Paid for by Friends of Francesca Hong
Fran has the momentum.
View ad on Meta ↗ - Attack$0–$99
True North News
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong says she regrets calling 911 over a Gaza protest display in Madison after previously backing efforts to defund police. Hong said she acted on incomplete information and later apologized.
View ad on Meta ↗ - Support$0–$99
Restoration News
Paid for by Restoration of America
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) love to talk about the "working class" or "working people" as a downtrodden lot living a meager life. Yet like a bully stealing your lunch money, DSA funds its policies by shaking you down with a payroll deduction tax. The working class must band together, DSA says, and demand a better life through union membership—so workers can stop production at will—and through elected officials who can change policies businesses must follow. This is playing out in real time in Wisconsin's high-stakes race for governor. "Many working-class people have felt left behind," Wisconsin DSA gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong said in a recent interview on CBS. "To know that there is someone who is a working-class person right now, fighting for these very practical policies, that's resonating with folks all across the state."
View ad on Meta ↗ - Support$0–$99
True North News
Bangstad Endorses Francesca Hong, Calls Her “Socialist With the Mostest” Amid Political Fallout
View ad on Meta ↗
Sources
- referenceBallotpedia
- campaignCampaign Website
- reportedWUWM Voter Guide
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