37 岁的单亲母亲、前洗碗工和前厨师 Francesca Hong 在摇摆州威斯康星州发起州长竞选，旨在测试左翼选民的支持边界 [1]。民主党初选定于 8 月 11 日举行 [1]。Hong 主张废除警察部门、向富人增税、建立州立银行提供免费医疗和托儿服务、将最低工资设定为 20 美元以及暂停数据中心建设等激进政策 [1]。这些立场引发了关于选举可行性的党内争论，温和派担忧其过于极端的立场会影响 11 月中期选举的胜负 [1]。美国进步中心领导人 Neera Tanden 强调在特朗普时代选择可行候选人的重要性 [1]。
与此同时，前副州长 Mandela Barnes、曾于 6 月退选并支持 Sara Rodriguez 的前州经济发展总监 Missy Hughes 以及获得唐纳德·特朗普支持的共和党众议员 Tom Tiffany（其是众议院最保守的成员之一）等候选人也在竞逐或对抗中 [1]。Barnes 曾在一次选举中以不到 27,000 票之差未能击败共和党参议员 Ron Johnson，民主党策略家 Joe Zepecki 认为 Barnes 是当前领跑者，并称“这是他的比赛，输掉是他的事”[1]。
Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old single mother and former chef who currently works as a dishwasher, has launched her campaign for governor of Wisconsin to test the boundaries of left-wing voter support within the state [1]. The primary election is scheduled for August 11 [1]. Her platform includes radical proposals such as abolishing police departments, imposing higher taxes on the wealthy, establishing a state bank to fund free healthcare and childcare services, setting a minimum wage at $20 per hour, and halting data center construction projects [1].
Hong faces competition from former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes in the Democratic primary against Republican incumbent Tom Tiffany [1]. Tiffany is one of the most conservative members of Congress and has received support from Donald Trump [1]. Barnes previously lost his bid for governor by a margin of fewer than 27,000 votes to Republican Senator Ron Johnson [1]. Former state economic development director Missy Hughes withdrew her candidacy in June to endorse Sara Rodriguez [1].
Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki stated that Barnes is the frontrunner and remarked, "This is his race; if he loses, it's on him" [1]. Meanwhile, Neera Tanden of the Center for American Progress emphasized the importance of selecting a viable candidate in an era dominated by Donald Trump [1]. Moderate Democrats have expressed concern that Hong’s extreme positions could jeopardize their chances against Tiffany in the November midterm election [1].