Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) on Wednesday stood by his endorsement of Francesca Hong, the democratic socialist who lost the Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, while pushing back against what he called unfair characterizations of her campaign.
In a series of posts on X, Khanna acknowledged that Democrats may disagree with Hong's positions on issues like single-payer healthcare, free childcare, and pausing data center construction, but he argued that reducing a candidate to a few statements is not a productive political approach.
“I appreciate that Democrats can have differences over single payer healthcare, free childcare, pausing data centers and other issues @FrancescaHongWI fought for,” Khanna wrote. “But caricaturing and labeling candidates based on a few statements is not a politics I believe in.”
Khanna, who has been a prominent progressive voice in Congress, highlighted Hong's personal story as a daughter of Korean immigrants, a single mother, and a small business owner who overcame struggles. He said she had to fight for a seat at the table as an Asian American, and that “nothing was handed to her.”
The primary result, projected by Decision Desk HQ early Wednesday, handed Crowley a victory that marked a significant win for the more centrist wing of the Democratic Party. The outcome came after a string of progressive and democratic socialist candidates had won primaries in recent weeks, raising concerns among some party leaders about the direction of the party.
Hong had faced criticism from Republicans and some Democrats for past comments supporting defunding the police and a 2021 suggestion to “cancel Thanksgiving.” In July, she clarified that she would not be able to defund the police as governor, but the attacks persisted.
Khanna rejected the notion that Democrats should engage in the same kind of name-calling that he attributed to former President Trump, saying, “I categorically reject the idea that the Democratic party must play the same name calling games as Trump, reducing people's identity to labels for political games.”
He added, “This country cries out for moral leadership. We want to rise above division. Let us start to provide it.”
The Wisconsin governor's race is now set for the general election, where Crowley will face the Republican nominee. The primary outcome has been seen as a bellwether for the party's internal dynamics, with progressive primary wins elsewhere putting pressure on House leadership. Meanwhile, in neighboring Minnesota, progressive candidates also made gains, including a Senate primary upset that boosted the left flank.
Khanna's defense of Hong underscores the ongoing tension within the Democratic Party between its progressive and moderate factions, a debate that is likely to continue as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
