Topline
Francesca Hong, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in the Wisconsin governor race, sparked a social media firestorm and backlash from some Democrats and right wing critics after she appeared to defend a call she made in 2020 to “cancel Thanksgiving.”
Key Facts
Hong, in a now-deleted post on what was then Twitter in 2020, made a call to “cancel Thanksgiving” because she said it celebrates colonialism, comparing the COVID-19 pandemic to diseases passed from settlers to Indigenous populations.
In a CNN interview on Monday, host Kaitlan Collins asked Hong if she stood by the post, to which Hong did not answer yes or no, but instead gave a lengthy answer saying “views can evolve” while noting her background as a chef and saying Thanksgiving can be “incredibly painful for many people in our communities.”
Hong’s answer sparked swift backlash—even from some Democrats, including former Obama adviser David Axelrod, who said “answers like these” cause “many to think if this chef wins the gubernatorial primary in WI, Ds may be cooked.”
Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., defended Thanksgiving as an “all-American holiday” in a post on X, joking it is only “painful” for “Cowboys fans who usually have to endure watching their team lose on this day.”
Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., who is running in the Republican primary in Wisconsin’s governor race, heaped criticism on Hong on Tuesday, saying he “won’t cancel Thanksgiving as governor” while accusing her of wanting to “destroy the traditions and culture that unite us.”
Hong’s interview answer went widely viral on X on Tuesday, with one upload of the interview clip garnering nearly 8 million views.
Read Francesca Hong’s Full Answer About Her ‘Cancel Thanksgiving’ Post
“I’m a chef, and one of the first meals that I made that was for the community when I was 16 was a Thanksgiving meal. I always think my hospitality background and owning a restaurant for seven, eight years that bringing folks around the table to share conversation and build community is always a good thing. But Thanksgiving is also a time that’s incredibly painful for many people in our communities, and so I think there I wanted to make sure that people understood that there are multiple views, but views can evolve, and the position that I’m running for right now, and I think my background as a chef will actually help me become a better governor that’s able to bring more people to the table.”
What Did Hong’s Thanksgiving Tweet Say?
Hong’s post about Thanksgiving, which is now deleted, said: “Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621. If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed Indigenous folx and women so be it.”
tangent
Hong was also asked about other social media posts in an appearance on “Pod Save America” on Tuesday. Host Jon Favreau asked Hong about posts in which she called for the abolition of the police and said “police exist to uphold white supremacy,” to which Hong said she does not plan to pursue abolishing the police. “My views have only become stronger in that I’m serious about public safety,” Hong said, saying she wants to “focus on stopping violent crime and giving law enforcement the resources and training they need, but ensure we are also holding accountable law enforcement that does not follow the law.” Favreau asked Hong whether she still believes police exist to uphold white supremacy, and Hong said, “No.”
what to watch for
The primary election in Wisconsin’s governor race will take place Aug. 11. Hong is the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, according to recent polls. A Marquette University poll published last week found Hong—a member of the Democratic Socialists of America—had 38% support, 22 percentage points above former lieutenant governor Mandela Barnes, who placed second in the poll but has since dropped out of the race. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who remains in the race, had 7% support in the poll.
further reading
Hong leads Democratic primary for governor once again in new Marquette poll (Wisconsin Public Radio)
Democratic candidates grapple with past stances on defunding the police ahead of key midterm races (AP)