Francesca Hong greets a volunteer for her campaign at a supporter’s home in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Aug. 9, 2026. (Kim Won-chul/Hankyoreh)
With progressive candidates making gains in Democratic primaries in the lead-up to the US midterm elections in November, Wisconsin is holding its Democratic gubernatorial primary Tuesday, with 37-year-old Korean American Francesca Hong, a state representative, leading the race.A victory for Hong, a self-styled democratic socialist, would be a shot in the arm for the progressive insurgency within the Democratic Party, giving it a foothold in a key Midwestern battleground state.President Donald Trump has recently stepped up attacks on progressive Democratic candidates, labeling them first as “communists” and now “jihadists.”Hong’s campaign is drawing attention as the latest in a series of unexpectedly strong showings by progressive Democratic candidates.In Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary on Aug. 4, progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed defeated a centrist rival to clinch the party’s nomination.In Minnesota, which also holds its primary Tuesday, moderate US Rep. Angie Craig and progressive Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan are locked in a close race for the Democratic Senate nomination.At her final campaign rally Monday, Hong called for higher taxes on the wealthy, universal child care, more funding for public education and a US$20 hourly minimum wage.She declared that what was truly extreme and “radical” was the fact that the minimum wage remained at US$7.25.The candidate said she was tired of other people deciding when they would be allowed to have change and how much change they would get.Hong argued that they had to come together to give power back to Wisconsin’s working class.Trump has pounced on these developments within the Democratic Party.When Trump was asked at the White House on Monday what campaign strategy he would recommend to Republican candidates, he said, “The one thing is we have jihadists being elected all over the place.”Trump didn’t specify whom he was referring to.“A friend of mine called up and said, you know, really, you should use the word ‘jihadist’ because that’s what’s happening.”Trump also claimed that progressive Democratic candidates were calling to “get rid of” the Supreme Court, the presidency and the Senate.“You know, sometimes I’d like to get rid of the Senate, too, but I don’t say it. And I wouldn’t do it,” he joked.Trump cited calls to cut funding for the police as part of his attack on the Democratic Party’s leftward shift.By Kim Won-chul, Washington correspondentPlease direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
