Wisconsin Gov Candidate Francesca Hong Clarifies Stance on Thanksgiving

Francesca Hong, a Democratic socialist candidate for Wisconsin governor, said she will not cancel Thanksgiving following backlash over a past social media post.

The controversy emerged during the final days of the campaign for the Wisconsin primary election held on Tuesday, Aug. 11 ^[1]. The incident highlights the tension between progressive ideological critiques of American traditions and the practical demands of winning a general election in a swing state.

Pressure mounted for Hong to clarify her position after a tweet from six years ago surfaced ^[2]. In the 2019 post, Hong appeared to call for the end of the Thanksgiving holiday ^[2]. The remarks drew criticism from voters and the Democratic Party chair, who sought a clear statement on her current views ^[2].

Responding to the criticism, Hong said, "I've cooked many great Thanksgiving dinners, and I'm not going to cancel Thanksgiving." She said she loves the holiday and has celebrated it with her family for years.

While some reports describe the original post as a criticism of the holiday's historical context, other accounts suggest Hong framed the tweet as a joke ^[2]. Despite the clarification, some reports indicate her responses to national media remained non-committal regarding whether she stands by the original sentiment of the post.

Addressing the balance between her platform and the controversy, Hong said, "We’re serious about public safety, but that doesn’t mean we’re cancelling Thanksgiving."

The timing of the controversy coincided with a broader test of progressive candidates across the Upper Midwest primaries ^[1]. Hong has spent the last week navigating the fallout through various media interviews and campaign events across Wisconsin.