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The latest chapter in the Wisconsin fight is a reminder that words matter in politics, and Francesca Hong’s Thanksgiving flip-flop has handed conservatives a vivid example of a nominee out of step with mainstream America. Hong’s past social posts — including a since-deleted message urging to “cancel Thanksgiving” and a more recent line that Thanksgiving can be “incredibly painful” for some — have resurfaced and are being replayed to suspicious voters across the state.
When pressed on CNN about whether she still believed Thanksgiving should be canceled, Hong’s answer was cautious and evasive rather than forceful, saying the holiday can be painful for some and that “views can evolve,” instead of plainly repudiating the idea of scrapping a cherished American tradition. That kind of non-answer is political malpractice in a swing state where cultural touchstones matter to independent and working-class voters.
This isn’t happening in a vacuum — Hong is running as a Democratic socialist insurgent in a hotly contested Wisconsin primary, and her history of provocative online remarks and national livestream appearances have already drawn national attention and scrutiny. Democrats who want to keep Wisconsin competitive should be alarmed that a nominee who energizes the base with radical posturing could cost the party the prize they’ve spent years trying to protect.
Unsurprisingly, Republican operatives have pounced, running ads that paint Hong as too extreme for Wisconsin and weaponizing these Thanksgiving comments to raise doubts about her judgment and patriotism. That GOP strategy is working because a lot of voters do not want woke preachers telling them their family holidays are offensive, and conservatives are right to call this out as a test of who understands ordinary Americans.
Even some inside-the-tent liberals are uneasy: Hong’s national livestream appearances and associations with controversial online personalities have raised concerns about judgment and the safety of minority communities, a distraction Democrats can ill afford in a battleground state. The media circus around every offhand social post only magnifies the real issue — can a candidate who flirts with cultural rejection win back suburban and rural voters who value tradition?
Conservatives should make plain what’s at stake: Thanksgiving is more than a date on a calendar, it is a bond that ties families and communities together, and candidates who mock or equivocate about it reveal an elitist disdain for the rhythms of everyday American life. This episode proves the wisdom of vetting not just policy platforms but cultural temperament; the left’s penchant for symbolic gestures and historical guilt-tripping alienates the very voters they need to win.
Wisconsin voters deserve a governor who celebrates American life, defends working families, and understands why traditions matter. If the Democrats nominate someone who can’t plainly say that Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks, hand desserts around the table, and be proud of this country, conservatives must be ready to hold them accountable at the ballot box and remind every hardworking American why we fight to keep our values strong.
