MADISON, Wis. — Francesca Hong, a state representative and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is leading the Democratic field ahead of Wisconsin’s Aug. 11 gubernatorial primary, according to a recent Marquette Law School poll. At 37 years old, Hong, who also works part-time as a bartender, has gained ground against more established Democrats, including a former lieutenant governor and a former top state administrator. The race is closely watched as one of three key Democratic primaries in the Midwest this August, alongside Senate contests in Michigan and Minnesota, offering a gauge of the party’s direction in competitive states.

Hong, the first Asian-American to serve in the Wisconsin legislature, represents a liberal district in Madison and ran for office in 2020, the same year she joined the DSA. Her platform calls for expansive government interventions across social and economic policies. These include proposals such as free child care, publicly operated grocery stores, mass transit expansion, the elimination of all college debt, Medicare-for-all, and reducing the standard workweek to 32 hours without a pay cut. She also advocates for legalizing marijuana to fund high-speed internet access, establishing a state-run development bank, abolishing the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, restoring voting rights to felons, and scaling back or eliminating prisons and police.

Hong has defended her approach to funding these programs by proposing higher taxes on the wealthy and removing business tax credits. “The money is there,” she said in an interview, citing current budget priorities and tax exemptions as issues. She also highlighted her background as a wage worker, a single mother, and a renter with immigrant roots as factors that inform her connection to voters.

The current governor, Tony Evers, a Democrat, is not seeking a third term, making this a rare open-seat contest. The Democratic nominee is expected to face Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany from northern Wisconsin in the November general election.

Hong’s candidacy has caused unease among party establishment figures who worry that her progressive platform may jeopardize the party’s chances in a swing state. Joe Wineke, former chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, described her as “the ultimate far-left candidate” and expressed skepticism about her electability in a general election. Similarly, political strategist David Axelrod warned that the race “feels like a slow-rolling car headed for a cliff.”

Despite such concerns, Hong remained resolute in her campaign message, emphasizing broad voter dissatisfaction with the status quo and underscoring her appeal to diverse constituencies. She declined to distance herself from past social media posts in which she advocated for defunding and abolishing the police, noting that policing decisions are made locally but criticizing the state’s lack of investment in community services, treatment programs, and victim assistance.

The primary has seen unexpected developments in recent weeks. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez exited the race following campaign finance mismanagement, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley briefly withdrew before reentering the contest with Evers’s endorsement. A sizable share of Democratic voters remain undecided, leaving the outcome uncertain.

Hong’s rise reflects ongoing tensions within the Democratic Party between factions pushing for moderate, centrist approaches aimed at winning swing voters, and those advocating for a more left-wing, transformative agenda amid economic inequality and skepticism toward government institutions. The outcome of Wisconsin’s primary may signal which direction the party takes heading into the 2026 midterm elections.