Wisconsin's Francesca Hong Backtracks on 2020 Abolish Police Posts Ahead of Aug. 11 Primary
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 24
Wisconsin's Francesca Hong Backtracks on 2020 Abolish Police Posts Ahead of Aug. 11 Primary
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 24
Francesca Hong said she does not want to cut public-safety resources, softening earlier calls to “defund, then abolish” police as she runs for Wisconsin governor.
Hong’s past posts resurfaced from 2020 and 2021, including support for abolishing police after Jacob Blake was shot 7 times in Kenosha and criticism of the decision not to charge Officer Rusten Sheskey.
Her new statement shifted to a broader safety message, citing housing, jobs, mental-health support and work with local leaders, but it did not say whether she would pursue defunding police as governor.
The issue lands in a crowded Democratic primary before the Aug. 11 election, where Hong is competing closely with former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes.
Republican hopeful Tom Tiffany used the controversy to attack both Democrats as far-left on crime, previewing a likely general-election line of attack in Wisconsin.
From 'abolish' to 'no cuts,' what is Francesca Hong's actual long-term public safety plan?