Francesca Hong reverses police stance, rejects abolition in Wisconsin governor bid

Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong has reversed her 2020 stance on policing, now rejecting calls to abolish police and disavowing her earlier claim that police uphold white supremacy. Hong stated on the "Pod Save America" podcast that she will not abolish the police and now prioritizes stopping violent crime while providing law enforcement with adequate resources and training. She attributed her shift to conversations with crime victims and marginalized communities during her six years in the state legislature. In 2020, Hong posted on X supporting defunding police as a step toward abolition following the shooting of Jacob Blake. She now advocates for broader public safety investments, including schools, mental health resources, and local government funding, alongside police accountability.