Socialist candidate poised to win Democrat primary for Wisconsin governor confronted with past extremist statements

Francesca Hong appearing on Fox News.

A socialist candidate who's leading the polls ahead of Wisconsin's primary to decide who will run to become the state's next governor rejected some of the most extreme positions being espoused by other socialist candidates who have been winning races across the U.S.

Francesca Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), appeared on Fox News Friday and was questioned about numerous positions she holds, including her past calls for Wisconsin to "defund the police." When Dana Perino asked Hong whether she's a dues-paying member of the DSA, Hong replied, "In my home chapter in Madison, I have been since 2020." 

But Hong tried to distance herself from some of the DSA's most extremist positions, which the group's co-chair laid out in an interview earlier in the week -- things like abolishing foundational aspects of the government, such as the senate and the presidency, replacing the Supreme Court, and abolishing ICE. However, she did not distance herself from a controversial interview she took part in with Hasan Piker earlier this month.

When asked whether she supported doing away with the U.S. Senate she said doing so would be "nonsensical and non-practical at this time." Hong also said she isn't ready to abolish the Supreme Court because "I believe in checks and balances." She also stopped short of saying she wanted to defund the Department of War and expressed skepticism of the state taking over private companies. 

When Perino confronted her with social media posts in which Hong called for the senate to be abolished and police departments to be defunded and abolished, Hong tried to avoid the topic, but eventually said her views had evolved, and then, when pressed, said, "The governor cannot defund the police, and I won't defund the police."

Hong also dodged Pernio's question about whether she'd accept the endorsement of the national DSA.

Polls show Hong has opened up a 33-point lead in the primary race for governor after her chief rival ended his campaign this week. The primary in Wisconsin is set for August 11 and, if she wins, Hong is likely to face Republican U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany, who has been endorsed by President Trump.

In a separate interview, Hong took aim at the Trump administration. “I’m excited to be growing a democratic coalition, that we are actually actualizing the big tent party that we know that we can be ... especially when we are fighting an authoritarian regime,” Hong said during an interview on MS Now.

Watch her full interview on Fox News below.