State Rep. Francesca Hong on Monday announced a “statewide” tour more than a month after she lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary, without naming the nominee she endorsed in August.
“It was never about just one candidate,” Hong posted on X. A follow-up said the tour would “connect you with organizations and candidates doing that work” and end with a call to “win that democratic trifecta.” She did not mention Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.
The first dates she posted are Milwaukee on September 26 at Black Husky Brewing, Beloit on September 27 at The Castle, Green Bay on October 10 at the Tarlton Theater, and Oshkosh on October 11 at the Oshkosh Food Co-op. All four are Democratic-leaning cities. No stops in Waukesha County, Northwoods, or rural swing counties were listed. She said more dates would follow. During her gubernatorial campaign, Hong’s team struggled to secure event space with venues.
The rollout comes after Heartland Post Editor-in-Chief Dan O’Donnell pointed out that Crowley is trailing Republican Tom Tiffany in money and airtime. The Milwaukee County executive has been fundraising in Washington, and the party’s other former gubernatorial candidates have not been visible on Crowley’s trail. Hong, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, state Sen. Kelda Roys, and former Administration Secretary Joel Brennan all left the August primary. Only Hong is now advertising a public tour, but even that circuit uses “We Make Better Possible,” her own campaign slogan, not Crowley’s.
Hong, a Madison democratic socialist, led Crowley in public polls for months before losing the August 11 primary by a few thousand votes after Gov. Tony Evers pulled Crowley back into the race. She endorsed Crowley the next day. Journal Sentinel coverage in mid-August said she appeared with him once. She then went quiet on X until Monday’s thread.
