Republican PAC Pushes Francesca Hong in Wisconsin Gubernatorial Race

A super PAC associated with Republicans is allocating $2.2 million for television ads seemingly aimed at boosting Francesca Hong’s chances in the Democratic primary for the Wisconsin governor’s race.

Some Democrats in Wisconsin express concern about Hong’s potential primary victory. Known as a democratic socialist with strong left-wing views, Hong remains a contentious figure in a state with balanced political affiliations. There is fear she could deliver the governor’s seat to Tom Tiffany, the expected Republican contender, in November.

The Republican perspective aligns with this concern. Right Direction Wisconsin, the PAC behind the ad supporting Hong, links to the Republican Governors Association. These 30-second ads, set to air from Thursday in progressive regions such as Madison and Milwaukee, criticize Hong’s liberal stance. This strategy attempts to increase her support among Democratic primary voters.

Both major political parties have employed similar tactics in other states, boosting perceived weaker candidates in their opponent’s primaries.

Joe Zepecki, a Democratic strategist based in Wisconsin and neutral in the primary, criticized the Republican efforts as “pathetic,” claiming they are trying to distract from their own issues with state voters. He urged every Democratic gubernatorial candidate, including Hong, to denounce these actions as blatant attempts to interfere in the democratic process.