These are a pair of J's that
I got from my
friend's son who outgrew them.
So they are very
nice hand me down.
That is that is a nice thing to be
down.
And I fit into boys'
shoes.
I'll take it.
That's funny, my daughter's growing
through all of my mother's old
snow boots.
Yeah.
She's about to leave the last pair
and she's kinda sad.
She's like, Oh, I've outgrown
Grandma Carla.
Oh.
It's gonna be a lot bigger, so
Yeah.
We're good here?
Alrighty.
Oh, Francesca Hong, thanks for
joining us.
Happy to be here.
For voters who don't know you, give
us an introduction of who you are
and why you're running for
government.
I'm a state representative for the
76th district here in Madison.
I am a proud single mom
to my son George, and I'm
a service industry worker.
And so I owned a restaurant for
seven years and worked as a chef,
and I still work as a bartender and
line cook.
And I'm running for governor because
we are in a moment of
crisis and chaos,
but we're also in a movement
moment. And as an organizer
and as a working class
candidate, I think that it's
the right thing to do to fight
alongside working class people
who are demanding change.
Is there a single issue that drives
you or perhaps a lane within
the Democratic Party that may define
you?
Fully funding public education,
universal child care, and expanding
badger care for all.
These are universal policies
addressing universal issues
for Wisconsinites all across
the state. And I think this
moment demands
visionary bold action
and not incrementalism.
Running for governor is very
expensive. How much do you think you
need to run to be competitive
and what's gonna happen after the
primary if you make it through that?
We are proud to be a people
powered grassroots campaign
and we have thousands
of donors who have given
from all across the state and
in fact forty-eight out of fifty
c states here in the country.
And so raising
has been
less of a challenge that
because we have so many volunteers
and folks across the state
who are committed to being a part of
our movement.
When it comes to a competitive
primary, for you what's h
where do you draw the line between
negative campaigning against a
member of your own party versus
defining differences between
candidates?
No, crowded primaries
are good for democracy.
But I think in this
moment people are stressed
and demanding bold
change.
And so we're really focused
on making sure that the
issues that we see
folks struggling with, with you
know, affordability
and you know, living
in times of fascism.
We want to make sure that we are
naming the billionaires and the
culprits of these issues
and then how the state is
responsible for presenting
and delivering solutions to
help people live a life of dignity.
When primary voters are looking at
all the candidates, should they be
focusing more on who's more aligned
with an issue that they support or
electability?
Electability is subjective
and I think that we
need leadership and the people
are demanding leadership where
politicians aren't going to say one
thing and do another.
We want leadership with
folks who are committed
to moral courage and willing
to do the hard thing and not
the politically expedient or
politically comfortable thing.
Most of the Democrats running in
this campaign are either aligned
with Milwaukee or Madison.
What's your plan to get out,
introduce yourself to the rest of
the state, especially those rural
areas who feel unheard?
I've had the privilege of traveling
across the state for the last five
years since I was elected into the
legislature, whether it's helping
other candidates campaign in
this for the state assembly
or being invited to speak at
and meeting farmers and educators
and people across the state.
I'm going back to those communities
and also meeting new ones.
And I think that when we
go to rural areas, suburban
areas, urban areas,
I've been so heartened by
the diversity of people who are
attending our events, Republicans,
independents, Democrats.
It's been and and it's
multi-generational.
I have learned so much from young
people who are attending our events,
and we're gonna continue to meet
those communities where they are,
regardless of what part of the state
they're in.
What do you think the impact of
Donald Trump will be on this
primary?
The fascist authoritarian
regime in the federal government
is really creating
a lot of chaos and uncertainty
for working class people.
And so beyond you
know what is happening at
the federal government, I think it's
important to stay focused on
how we can deliver for working class
people, meeting the urgency of
this moment with universal policies
that are actually going to change
the material conditions of people's
lives at a pace
and and deliver, you know,
as urgently and as quickly as we
can.
There's a lot of diversity in the
Democratic candidates, but why does
it feel like there's still some
members of the party trying to find
a white man to run for governor?
I am really
proud of being
an daughter of immigrants
and having grown up in
a working class family and
still being work still
working in the service industry.
And I think that relatability,
you know, it's less about labels
right now and who is
the person that folks want
to vote for, someone who they're
excited to vote for.
And I think the number of
people who are our volunteers
who have never been involved with a
campaign before and now
want to be a part of one,
I think that speaks
to how my multiple identities
can really be a strength for
our campaign.
And whoever wants to con whoever
wants to be
whoever wants to join us in our
democratic primary, I
look forward to debating the issues
with them.
If elected governor, there's a
decent chance you could have a
democratic legislature behind you.
What's your A B one?
What's the first bill you want to
sign into law?
Red flag logs and background
checks and safe
storage. I think gun
safety is a universal
issue and we have
to meet
we have to ensure that we're
protecting our kids.
Then public education and
universal childcare.
I think when we put our kids
first, working class families all
win.
There's also a chance you could have
Republicans in control of one or
both houses. What's your record of
working across the aisle?
I'm incredibly proud to have
passed the Asian American education
legislation that was
Republican led, where we
had stakeholders from all across
the state, a coalition that
was multi-generational and multi
ethnic, where Republicans
and I came together to make sure we
delivered for working class families
and what they were demanding.
The Public Service Commission is
reviewing large rate increases
for all people across the state.
Data centers are being proposed in
all corners.
What is your stance on data centers
and those issues and what do you
want to do about it as governor?
There shouldn't be
any corporations that are coming
in and jacking up prices
for ratepayers.
And I'm not interested in
the state providing subsidies
and handouts for large
corporations that are coming in
who are really going to impact
our clean lakes,
our air.
And so the subsidies
that folks might be proposing
and support are really concerning
to me. And I think right now we are
seeing democracy at
its core
strength with people
who are speaking out
and defending their communities
and talking about why they do
or do not support data centers.
And it's important for our campaign
to meet those folks in their
communities as they're voicing
concern and better understand
what the issue
is, what they're concerned about,
and how we can support the work
that they're doing to make sure
their communities aren't harmed.
When it comes to supporting public
education, is it just a matter of
more money or is there reform that
needs to happen as well?
The reform is in our inequitable
school funding formula that pits
communities against one another,
that raises property taxes,
but also makes it so that the
disparities among students,
especially those who are lower
income, are not
being addressed.
And so increasing special
education for 90% reimbursement
at some sufficient levels and making
sure that we're increasing general
aids, our schools have been
defunded for over a decade
now. And if we do not prioritize
public education, which is
one of our last remaining democratic
institutions, we as a state
will not succeed.
What's your position on vouchers and
what would you like to see happen to
that system?
I am very concerned about public
dollars going to private schools
and a system that is unaccountable
and not transparent in how
they may or may not be serving
our kids.
And so it's critical that we
look at a program that seems
more and more to be like a
scam.
What's your number one tax reform
that you'd like to see happen?
I am very tired of our
state providing subsidies for the
wealthiest few and the largest
corporations.
I think tax fairness is
one that is going to help us
generate revenue to fund investments
where we need, but also looking
at closing these loopholes
and ensuring that
the working class people
pay you know, the same
that the wealthiest aren't
paying m a lower
percentage of taxes than what
working class people are paying now.
Over the last year, the Supreme
Court has overhauled and reduced
legislative oversight of agency
rulemaking and oversight
over the fiscal process.
Would you like to see a compromise
to restore some legislative
oversight or are you happy with
where it stands now?
I think we can always improve
on the, you know, checks and
balances of the different branches
of government.
I think that there has
been an undermining
of executive power due to
the fact that the Republican led
m legislature wants
to hoard that power away from a
potential democratic government
governor. And so it's imperative
that we have
checks and balances
on who retains power and who
is a voice for the people and where
we can ensure that the
rulemaking and the legislative
process is one that is fair.
We've seen a large increase in the
number of referenda for local
governments.
What needs to happen there in terms
of the state's relationship to local
communities?
The state has been starving our
local municipalities
and for over a decade
now. And so it's imperative that
we have a more equitable shared
revenue formula to make sure that
our local municipalities have the
resources they need.
They say when government is
the government that's closest to
your door is the government that's
going to pass policies that impact
you quickest.
So it's it's it's
for our communities, it's necessary
for our communities to have
municipalities that have the
resources to provide the services
that people need.
Right now there are a number of
exploratory drilling projects
throughout northern Wisconsin
looking at potential mines.
What is your position on the current
mining regulations and you think
they need to be adjusted?
I am staunchly opposed
to the type of
mining as well as drilling.
When it comes to line five, I have
been vocal about my opposition
there. I think the dangers
that this is presenting to
communities who have already
seen services be cut,
their schools you know
closing. I think that
having this type
of this
type of harmful
these types of harmful groups
coming in to impact
local environments
and the quality of life,
it's it's really
unfortunate. And I think it's very
important that we look at how to
hold these corporations accountable.
Do you have concerns about your own
personal safety while campaigning in
this modern political environment?
It's disappointing that
political violence has become
such a frequent occurrence
and I'm fortunate
to have a campaign
team and a community
and volunteers across the state
that I think are
going to remain supportive
and I I do not
have concerns for my
personal safety.
When it comes to affordable housing,
what needs to happen to increase?
Is it regulation?
Is it subsidies?
Is it density?
We have to have a multi-pronged
approach and we have
to make it easier to build
housing and look at different
avenues and innovative ways
to ensure that we have permanent
affordability when it comes to
housing.
I'm interested in looking at
community land trust about how
we can provide
better zoning regulations
and the ability to build ADUs
and ensure that we
have spaces for some folks
who may no longer need to be
in their homes
where there can be starter
homes for folks who are moving into
communities and looking at
diversifying our housing stock
for folks who are moving or maybe
downsizing.
And so there are a lot of different
avenues that we have to explore,
but overall we have to make it
easier to build.
Governor Evers has proposed a pretty
ambitious corrections overhaul.
Would you continue that plan as
Governor?
I think it's important to look at
reducing our prison population
while also ensuring that
those who are at the Department of
Corrections have opportunities
to be able to transition
and k be safe
in their work environments.
And so I will
certainly look at
some of the plans that the
governor has now,
but overall it's important that
we look at transition
programs and ways that we can
keep those who are incarcerated
and those who are working in our
prison safe.
Would you like to see any changes to
Wisconsin's abortions law?
We have to repeal the eighteen forty
nine abortion ban and
I think abortion freedom
and is you know about
health care and democracy
as well. And so I think
it's important that we
keep in mind that abortion
is health care and that
access to that health care has
to be equitable.
Francesca Hong, thanks for your
time.
Thank you so much.
All right. Well thank you for coming
in. Appreciate it.
Covered some territory there.