The 4th of July weekend concluded with a visit from one of the Democratic leaders in the race for Wisconsin governor.
Madison State Representative and Food Industry Worker Francesca Hong rallied supporters at KC’s Kitchen and Cocktails yesterday evening as she continues to fundraise for her campaign.
After explaining her platform to attendees, she concluded that this election needs to be about the needs of the many, not the money.
Hong also said she wants to work to keep elections safe, fair, and free.
“When we raise our voice, when Democracy is used as the verb that it is, but we continue to fight for one another, and we do what has never been done in Wisconsin, electing a woman, electing a person of color,” she said to a round of applause. “That is going to reverberate across the country.”
After speaking with supporters, she gave a couple of comments to Seehafernews.com, including why she stopped in the Clipper City.
She called Manitowoc a strong, resilient community of people who are looking out for each other.
“I wanted folks here to hear our vision, how we’re fighting for people and alongside them,” she explained. “And I think that it’s communities like Manitowoc that we can point to as an example of a community that is looking out for one another.”
The Madison Democrat is also open about calling herself a “Democratic Socialist,” a term that has drawn strong criticism from Republicans and has previously caused division in the Democratic Party.
Hong says to her that the term means democracy, fairness, and human rights.
“Our policies are rooted in care,” she stated. “From public education, childcare, caregiving, at-home care. Ways that we can build care into our communities.”
She says if she becomes the Democratic nominee, she feels there is agreement on more funding for public education.
She mentioned, “It’s an issue that I hear about regardless of whether it’s a red or blue county.”
Hong also sat down with a spokesperson for some counterprotesters during her stop.
The group tried to interrupt the end of her speech and showed signs with messages saying, “Hong is no comrade to Wisconsin” and quotes she had said about abolishing police after the 2020 Kenosha County shooting of Jacob Blake.
Some group members told the media that they believe Hong’s policies are related to a rise in pro-Islamic ideologies.
The gubernatorial candidate told us that, while the topic of ideology was discussed, she was able to talk to one person in the group about raising kids and healthcare.
Wisconsin’s Partisan Primary Race takes place on August 11th.
Hong is one of nine Democrats running to become the nominee.
Congressman Tom Tiffany is the only Republican candidate still in the partisan primary race.
He’s hosting an event tonight in Manitowoc at Salute to Everyone.
