Democrat socialist state Rep. Francesca Hong, a leading candidate for Wisconsin governor, publicly praised “finding common ground” in a video posted on X with Ashik Siddique, the national co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, in a social media post Thursday that drew immediate backlash from conservatives, highlighting Siddique’s history of anti-American rhetoric and support for terrorism.
Siddique serves as co-chair of the DSA’s 2025-2027 National Political Committee and previously held the same role for 2023-2025. The DSA has faced widespread criticism for its defense of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel and for embracing anti-Israel extremism.
Canary Mission and other watchdog groups have documented Siddique repeatedly expressing support for “Palestinian resistance,” calling for the destruction of Israel, spreading anti-Semitism, and promoting hatred of America. He has advocated dismantling U.S. institutions and backed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel.
Hong, a democratic socialist, is one of several candidates in the Democrat gubernatorial primary courting voters on the far-left flank. Her latest outreach to Siddique comes as liberal analysts warn the party’s primary voters are pushing candidates further left, elevating figures with limited general-election appeal in purple Wisconsin.
