“Woke 1 was crazy”

In a Wisconsin Democratic primary that national political reporter Dave Weigel called "one of the most dramatic elections I've covered in person," state legislator Francesca Hong—a Democratic Socialists of America member who once tweeted "Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621"—lost decisively to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Hong had been leading in the polls. Crowley, who re-entered the race only after Governor Tony Evers pulled him in, won with high turnout. The result crystallized a question the Democratic Party has been wrestling with since 2020: how much does the cultural baggage of the "woke era" cost candidates in swing states?

The Wisconsin race as a case study

Hong built her campaign around a working-class populist message: restructure the state's tax system, put a moratorium on data centers, and capture a "working class majority" that she argued was ready for radical change. She dressed as Rosie the Riveter on the trail and leaned into her background as a restaurant chef. But her social media history—statements including "Police exist to uphold white supremacy. Defund, then abolish. Reform can't be an option"—became a liability that her Democratic opponents and Republicans alike exploited. Republicans poured $4 million into the race hoping Hong would win the primary, calculating she would be easier to beat in a general election.