Wisconsin Dem socialist governor hopeful dodges whether she still wants to 'abolish police'

Francesca Hong, the Democratic primary frontrunner in Wisconsin's gubernatorial race, dodged direct yes-or-no questions about whether she still supports abolishing police, despite pledging to preserve law enforcement funding during a televised debate. When pressed by Politico reporter Jonathan Martin at Marquette University, Hong refused to clarify her stance. Instead, she stated: "I believe that we have to be serious about public safety, and I'm going to be a governor that is more serious than anyone else in making sure that we are building systems of care." Her campaign communications director subsequently acknowledged that Hong's underlying values on police and prison abolition "haven't changed, but the way she talks about this issue has." In 2021, following the Jacob Blake shooting, Hong posted on social media: "Police exist to uphold White supremacy. Defund then abolish. Reform can't be an option." During the debate itself, all five Democratic candidates said they would not sign a budget cutting police funding. Hong remarked: "The governor cannot defund police, and I am not here to govern by slogan." A Marquette Law School poll showed Hong leading Democratic primary voters at 38%, up from 26% the previous week, with 34% undecided.