Disturbing trend is emerging within the Democratic Party that threatens to hand a decisive victory to Republicans in November. At the center of this storm is Francesca Hong, a state representative and self-proclaimed member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) whose radical agenda on national security, law enforcement, and the economy represents a fundamental departure from American values.
While establishment Democrats express concern that Hong’s far-left views could cost them the governorship, the reality is far more alarming. Hong’s positions on the Iran War, the use of Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs), and the dismantling of the American defense industrial base are not merely “controversial”—they are dangerously un-American and pose a direct threat to the safety and economic stability of Wisconsin.
The most alarming aspect of Hong’s platform is her aggressive stance on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. With Wisconsin Army National Guard troops currently deployed in Kuwait and Iraq supporting Operation Epic Fury, Hong has declared her intent to defy federal authority.
In a questionnaire response that reads like a manifesto for anarchy, Hong stated: “I fully condemn Trump’s use of Wisconsin’s committed servants to execute his illegal war in Iran… I will refuse to comply with any request from this administration that perpetuates war and genocide around the world to the extent I can.”
This rhetoric is not just political posturing; it is a direct challenge to the Constitution and the chain of command. The Supreme Court has long established in Perpich v. Department of Defense that a governor cannot withhold consent to federalized National Guard duty. Yet, Hong suggests she would file lawsuits and refuse cooperation, effectively creating a constitutional crisis in the heart of America’s heartland.
Furthermore, Hong’s call to “abolish” the National Guard’s role in federal service ignores the reality of modern warfare. Wisconsin’s “Black Hat Battalion” and the 107th Maintenance Company are not pawns in a political game; they are protecting American interests against aggressive regimes like Iran. Hong’s desire to turn the National Guard into a “mission of peace” while ignoring the geopolitical threat of a nuclear-armed Iran is a recipe for disaster.
NSPM-7 and the Assault on Law Enforcement
Hong’s views on domestic security are equally disturbing. The Trump administration’s NSPM-7 directive, which targets domestic terrorists and those who oppose American values, has been met with a hostile response from Hong. She has vowed to “cease any cooperation with a federal joint operation taskforce that is designed to target American citizens exercising their civil liberties.”
This is a dangerous misunderstanding of the law. The Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) are not political tools; they are essential mechanisms for preventing terrorism. By calling for the removal of state and local police from these task forces, Hong is effectively disarming Wisconsin law enforcement against real threats.
Hong’s rhetoric regarding ICE is even more extreme. She has called for the “immediate abolition of the fascist brigade known as ICE,” labeling the agency a “fascist brigade” rather than a vital component of national security. This is the language of a radical who views the enforcement of immigration law as an act of tyranny.
In Minnesota, where prosecutors have used NSPM-7 to charge anti-ICE protesters, Hong sees only persecution rather than justice. Her call to ban “masked agents” and protect “essential public spaces” for all individuals ignores the reality that these “protesters” are often violent agitators who threaten the safety of law-abiding citizens.
Perhaps the most economically reckless aspect of Hong’s platform is her plan to dismantle Wisconsin’s defense manufacturing sector. Wisconsin is a global leader in defense production, with over 300 suppliers building components for the Navy’s Columbia-class nuclear submarines, the USS Wisconsin, and Oshkosh’s armored trucks.
Hong has stated: “I oppose militarism, and nuclear proliferation… Engaging in the same old corporate welfare for arms manufacturers neither makes the world a safer place nor develops the Wisconsin economy.”
This is a direct attack on the working-class jobs that sustain Wisconsin’s economy. The defense industry is not “corporate welfare”; it is the backbone of Wisconsin’s manufacturing sector. By calling for a “peace economy” and a pivot away from defense production, Hong is threatening the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Wisconsinites.
Her claim that military spending creates only five jobs per million dollars, compared to 13 in education, is a gross oversimplification that ignores the high-skilled, high-wage jobs in the defense sector. The transition she proposes is not a “long conversation”; it is a direct threat to the economic stability of the state.
The establishment Democrats’ fear that Hong would lose the general election is not unfounded. A recent Marquette Law School poll showed that more than half of Wisconsin’s registered voters view Democratic socialists negatively. Hong’s radical views on national security, law enforcement, and the economy are not just out of step with the majority of Wisconsinites; they are fundamentally opposed to the American way of life.
The Republican Party has already begun to exploit this. Tom Tiffany, the likely Republican nominee, has made it clear that he will attack Hong’s record on national security and her support for the abolition of ICE. In a state that delivered the narrowest result in the 2024 presidential election, a candidate who wants to dismantle the National Guard, abolish ICE, and shut down the defense industry is a liability.
The Wisconsin Democratic Party must wake up to the reality that Francesca Hong is not a moderate candidate; she is a radical socialist whose agenda would destroy the state’s security and economy. The party’s only hope is to unite behind a candidate who understands the importance of a strong national defense, the rule of law, and the economic benefits of a robust defense industry.
