Minocqua Brewing Company’s Kirk Bangstad announced via a Facebook screed that he is endorsing Francesca Hong for governor, calling her the only Democratic candidate capable of challenging special interests and returning power to working people.
In a statement posted on social media, Bangstad referred to Hong as the “Wisconsin ‘socialist with the mostest’” and said she possesses enough independent thought to stand up to President Trump and buck corporate influence, even though he previously called her too politically naive and unelectable in a general election. He acknowledged briefly running against her but said he now believes she offers the best path for real change in Wisconsin politics.
Bangstad also quietly dissolved the Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC, which he founded and controlled via a termination notice to the FEC. In the termination report, Bangstad was still sending thousands of dollars to the shady NCPS for consulting services.
Bangstad has long used his brewery and political activities to promote far-left causes. He previously drew national attention for inflammatory anti-Trump rhetoric, including celebrating a foiled assassination attempt with references to “free beer day.”
The endorsement comes while Bangstad remains the defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by Lakeland Times publisher Gregg Walker and general manager Heather Holmes, and amid ongoing issues with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, which seized several cases of his beer earlier this month. The suit alleges Bangstad used his Super PAC to funnel nearly $460,000 to himself through two unregistered shell companies, Effervescent Blue and NCPS. According to court filings, the entities received payments listed as advertising and consulting fees despite having no registered business presence, websites, or visible operations in Wisconsin. Dane County Circuit Court Judge Brian Jones denied Bagnstad’s emergency injunction to return his beer.
Bangstad failed to qualify for the Democratic primary ballot earlier this month after submitting insufficient valid signatures.
