{"id":1737,"date":"2026-07-28T16:10:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T16:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1737"},"modified":"2026-07-28T16:10:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T16:10:23","slug":"a-new-socialist-bartender-is-giving-democrat-elites-headaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1737","title":{"rendered":"A New Socialist Bartender Is Giving Democrat Elites Headaches"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<p><span>Another far-Left socialist bartender running for governor in the American heartland is giving Democrats a fresh headache as the party reels from deep ideological divisions and mounting financial woes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1735\">Economists Lose Their Minds Over Mamdani Supermarkets: \u2018LITERALLY How You Destroy An Economy\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span>Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old dues-paying member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is leading the crowded field in Wisconsin\u2019s Democratic gubernatorial primary in a race Republicans see as ripe for a flip.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In the mold of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the state representative\u2019s <\/span><span>Left-wing platform<\/span><span> calls for a sweeping expansion of government into everyday life, including abolishing ICE, imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers, creating government-owned grocery stores, and providing universal childcare and paid leave for all.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Hong also supports legalizing marijuana to fund high-speed broadband and backs a state-run development bank, a 32-hour workweek with no reduction in pay, restoring voting rights to felons, and dramatically reducing the role of prisons and police, according to The Wall Street Journal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cIt\u2019s so stressful to get by these days, and I know a lot about stress. I work in restaurants,\u201d Hong said in a <\/span><span>campaign launch video<\/span><span>.<\/span><span> \u201cI\u2019m a service worker, community organizer, and a mom. I work for a living, always have, still do.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThe system is rigged. I\u2019m running for governor to fix it. For years, we\u2019ve been told that doing better is impossible. Well, let me tell you, that\u2019s bullsh*t,\u201d she added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Hong also called for abolishing the U.S. Senate in a February 2021 social media post. In a statement to Fox News, Hong\u2019s campaign denied that she had ever called for eliminating the upper chamber: \u201cRep. Hong has never called for abolishing the U.S. Senate. Tiffany cannot produce a single statement where she did, because it doesn\u2019t exist.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span>The leftist populist platform has resonated with much of the Wisconsin Democratic base, triggering a last-minute scramble among establishment leaders who fear that nominating a socialist in a state that President Trump won could hand the governor\u2019s mansion to Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, the expected GOP nominee.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Recent polling<\/span><span> shows Hong with a double-digit lead over established politicians, including former <\/span><span>Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes<\/span><span> and Milwaukee County Executive <\/span><span>David Crowley<\/span><span>, who suspended his gubernatorial bid before reviving it two weeks later with the backing of outgoing Democratic Governor Tony Evers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThe Republican Governors Association is bankrolling millions right now, not to attack a Democrat, but to boost one, because they\u2019ve decided which Democratic nominee they can beat in November,\u201d Crowley said, explaining his decision to get back into the race.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThat is a five-alarm warning sign. We cannot let the GOP choose the Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1733\">Bombshell Recording Of Joe Biden Uncovers Another Lie In Classified Docs Scandal<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span>NBC News<\/span><span> recently uncovered old social media posts linking Crowley to a pseudonymous X account called \u201cDirt McGirk,\u201d which the outlet said featured racist, sexist, and homophobic posts between 2010 and 2014. Crowley insisted other people had access to the X burner account and condemned the derogatory posts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The August 11 primary will test the appeal of democratic socialists in the industrial Midwest, following a string of victories in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Denver. <\/span><span>Prediction markets<\/span><span> overwhelmingly favor Hong to win the primary.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>A similar battle is playing out right next door in the U.S. Senate race in Michigan, where Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens is working overtime to fend off a stronger-than-expected challenge from leftist <\/span><span>Abdul El-Sayed, who is leading in most polls.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The contentious race took an unexpected turn when a black Farmington school board member backing Stevens urged El-Sayed to <\/span><span>stop embracing<\/span><span> his Muslim identity<\/span><span> on the campaign trail.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThe other candidate seems to be \u2026 doesn\u2019t work a room. You have to know how to work the room. Don\u2019t come out speaking only Arabic,\u201d Angie Smith said at a Stevens campaign event. \u201cDon\u2019t come out with your Arabic music on. Represent everyone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cYou know, I\u2019m the mother of a lesbian. I\u2019m Puerto Rican and Cherokee, with a grandfather that was a white man from Ireland. Represent us all. Don\u2019t just represent one ethnicity or one race,\u201d she added.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The Democratic Party\u2019s heartburn, spilling out of deep-blue cities and into purple battleground states, comes as the cash-strapped DNC sinks <\/span><span>deeper into internal turmoil<\/span><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>DNC chairman Ken Martin is descending into fear and \u201ca growing sense of paranoia\u201d about his job security, The New York Times reported on Sunday. The chairman \u2014 responsible for fundraising, party operations, and campaign infrastructure \u2014 is \u201crelying on a vanishingly small circle of people he trusts.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>And for good reason.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Heading into the midterms, the financial gap between the parties is striking. President Trump has amassed a $400 million war chest, the RNC has another $130 million available, and the DNC is reportedly about $2 million in debt, according to The New York Times.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThis is not sustainable,\u201d said MS NOW host Joe Scarborough. \u201cAnyone who cares about the Democratic Party \u2014 including Ken Martin \u2014 would say \u2018Enough.\u2019 The DNC is flat broke. This must change now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1731\">Trump Unloads On Fauci After Diary Revelations, Then Reveals \u2018God\u2019 Theory<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Another far-Left socialist bartender running for governor in the American heartland is giving Democrats a fresh headache as the party reels from deep ideological divisions and mounting financial woes.Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old dues-paying member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is leading the crowded field in Wisconsin\u2019s Democratic gubernatorial primary in a race Republicans see as ripe for a flip.In the mold of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the state representative\u2019s Left-wing platform calls for a sweeping expansion of government into everyday life, including abolishing ICE, imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers, creating government-owned grocery stores, and providing universal childcare and paid leave for all.Hong also supports legalizing marijuana to fund high-speed broadband and backs a state-run development bank, a 32-hour workweek with no reduction in pay, restoring voting rights to felons, and dramatically reducing the role of prisons and police, according to The Wall Street Journal.\u201cIt\u2019s so stressful to get by these days, and I know a lot about stress. I work in restaurants,\u201d Hong said in a campaign launch video. \u201cI\u2019m a service worker, community organizer, and a mom. I work for a living, always have, still do.\u201d\u00a0\u201cThe system is rigged. I\u2019m running for governor to fix it. For years, we\u2019ve been told that doing better is impossible. Well, let me tell you, that\u2019s bullsh*t,\u201d she added.\u00a0Hong also called for abolishing the U.S. Senate in a February 2021 social media post. In a statement to Fox News, Hong\u2019s campaign denied that she had ever called for eliminating the upper chamber: \u201cRep. Hong has never called for abolishing the U.S. Senate. Tiffany cannot produce a single statement where she did, because it doesn\u2019t exist.\u201dThe leftist populist platform has resonated with much of the Wisconsin Democratic base, triggering a last-minute scramble among establishment leaders who fear that nominating a socialist in a state that President Trump won could hand the governor\u2019s mansion to Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, the expected GOP nominee.Recent polling shows Hong with a double-digit lead over established politicians, including former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who suspended his gubernatorial bid before reviving it two weeks later with the backing of outgoing Democratic Governor Tony Evers.\u00a0\u201cThe Republican Governors Association is bankrolling millions right now, not to attack a Democrat, but to boost one, because they\u2019ve decided which Democratic nominee they can beat in November,\u201d Crowley said, explaining his decision to get back into the race.\u00a0\u201cThat is a five-alarm warning sign. We cannot let the GOP choose the Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin,\u201d he added.\u00a0NBC News recently uncovered old social media posts linking Crowley to a pseudonymous X account called \u201cDirt McGirk,\u201d which the outlet said featured racist, sexist, and homophobic posts between 2010 and 2014. Crowley insisted other people had access to the X burner account and condemned the derogatory posts.\u00a0The August 11 primary will test the appeal of democratic socialists in the industrial Midwest, following a string of victories in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Denver. Prediction markets overwhelmingly favor Hong to win the primary.\u00a0\u00a0A similar battle is playing out right next door in the U.S. Senate race in Michigan, where Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens is working overtime to fend off a stronger-than-expected challenge from leftist Abdul El-Sayed, who is leading in most polls.The contentious race took an unexpected turn when a black Farmington school board member backing Stevens urged El-Sayed to stop embracing his Muslim identity on the campaign trail.\u201cThe other candidate seems to be \u2026 doesn\u2019t work a room. You have to know how to work the room. Don\u2019t come out speaking only Arabic,\u201d Angie Smith said at a Stevens campaign event. \u201cDon\u2019t come out with your Arabic music on. Represent everyone.\u201d\u201cYou know, I\u2019m the mother of a lesbian. I\u2019m Puerto Rican and Cherokee, with a grandfather that was a white man from Ireland. Represent us all. Don\u2019t just represent one ethnicity or one race,\u201d she added.The Democratic Party\u2019s heartburn, spilling out of deep-blue cities and into purple battleground states, comes as the cash-strapped DNC sinks deeper into internal turmoil.DNC chairman Ken Martin is descending into fear and \u201ca growing sense of paranoia\u201d about his job security, The New York Times reported on Sunday. The chairman \u2014 responsible for fundraising, party operations, and campaign infrastructure \u2014 is \u201crelying on a vanishingly small circle of people he trusts.\u201d\u00a0And for good reason.\u00a0Heading into the midterms, the financial gap between the parties is striking. President Trump has amassed a $400 million war chest, the RNC has another $130 million available, and the DNC is reportedly about $2 million in debt, according to The New York Times.\u201cThis is not sustainable,\u201d said MS NOW host Joe Scarborough. \u201cAnyone who cares about the Democratic Party \u2014 including Ken Martin \u2014 would say \u2018Enough.\u2019 The DNC is flat broke. This must change now.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-2"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A New Socialist Bartender Is Giving Democrat Elites Headaches - Blue Route Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1737\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A New Socialist Bartender Is Giving Democrat Elites Headaches - Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Another far-Left socialist bartender running for governor in the American heartland is giving Democrats a fresh headache as the party reels from deep ideological divisions and mounting financial woes.Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old dues-paying member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is leading the crowded field in Wisconsin\u2019s Democratic gubernatorial primary in a race Republicans see as ripe for a flip.In the mold of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the state representative\u2019s Left-wing platform calls for a sweeping expansion of government into everyday life, including abolishing ICE, imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers, creating government-owned grocery stores, and providing universal childcare and paid leave for all.Hong also supports legalizing marijuana to fund high-speed broadband and backs a state-run development bank, a 32-hour workweek with no reduction in pay, restoring voting rights to felons, and dramatically reducing the role of prisons and police, according to The Wall Street Journal.\u201cIt\u2019s so stressful to get by these days, and I know a lot about stress. I work in restaurants,\u201d Hong said in a campaign launch video. \u201cI\u2019m a service worker, community organizer, and a mom. I work for a living, always have, still do.\u201d\u00a0\u201cThe system is rigged. I\u2019m running for governor to fix it. For years, we\u2019ve been told that doing better is impossible. Well, let me tell you, that\u2019s bullsh*t,\u201d she added.\u00a0Hong also called for abolishing the U.S. Senate in a February 2021 social media post. In a statement to Fox News, Hong\u2019s campaign denied that she had ever called for eliminating the upper chamber: \u201cRep. Hong has never called for abolishing the U.S. Senate. Tiffany cannot produce a single statement where she did, because it doesn\u2019t exist.\u201dThe leftist populist platform has resonated with much of the Wisconsin Democratic base, triggering a last-minute scramble among establishment leaders who fear that nominating a socialist in a state that President Trump won could hand the governor\u2019s mansion to Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, the expected GOP nominee.Recent polling shows Hong with a double-digit lead over established politicians, including former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who suspended his gubernatorial bid before reviving it two weeks later with the backing of outgoing Democratic Governor Tony Evers.\u00a0\u201cThe Republican Governors Association is bankrolling millions right now, not to attack a Democrat, but to boost one, because they\u2019ve decided which Democratic nominee they can beat in November,\u201d Crowley said, explaining his decision to get back into the race.\u00a0\u201cThat is a five-alarm warning sign. We cannot let the GOP choose the Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin,\u201d he added.\u00a0NBC News recently uncovered old social media posts linking Crowley to a pseudonymous X account called \u201cDirt McGirk,\u201d which the outlet said featured racist, sexist, and homophobic posts between 2010 and 2014. Crowley insisted other people had access to the X burner account and condemned the derogatory posts.\u00a0The August 11 primary will test the appeal of democratic socialists in the industrial Midwest, following a string of victories in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Denver. Prediction markets overwhelmingly favor Hong to win the primary.\u00a0\u00a0A similar battle is playing out right next door in the U.S. Senate race in Michigan, where Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens is working overtime to fend off a stronger-than-expected challenge from leftist Abdul El-Sayed, who is leading in most polls.The contentious race took an unexpected turn when a black Farmington school board member backing Stevens urged El-Sayed to stop embracing his Muslim identity on the campaign trail.\u201cThe other candidate seems to be \u2026 doesn\u2019t work a room. You have to know how to work the room. Don\u2019t come out speaking only Arabic,\u201d Angie Smith said at a Stevens campaign event. \u201cDon\u2019t come out with your Arabic music on. Represent everyone.\u201d\u201cYou know, I\u2019m the mother of a lesbian. I\u2019m Puerto Rican and Cherokee, with a grandfather that was a white man from Ireland. Represent us all. Don\u2019t just represent one ethnicity or one race,\u201d she added.The Democratic Party\u2019s heartburn, spilling out of deep-blue cities and into purple battleground states, comes as the cash-strapped DNC sinks deeper into internal turmoil.DNC chairman Ken Martin is descending into fear and \u201ca growing sense of paranoia\u201d about his job security, The New York Times reported on Sunday. The chairman \u2014 responsible for fundraising, party operations, and campaign infrastructure \u2014 is \u201crelying on a vanishingly small circle of people he trusts.\u201d\u00a0And for good reason.\u00a0Heading into the midterms, the financial gap between the parties is striking. President Trump has amassed a $400 million war chest, the RNC has another $130 million available, and the DNC is reportedly about $2 million in debt, according to The New York Times.\u201cThis is not sustainable,\u201d said MS NOW host Joe Scarborough. \u201cAnyone who cares about the Democratic Party \u2014 including Ken Martin \u2014 would say \u2018Enough.\u2019 The DNC is flat broke. This must change now.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1737\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-28T16:10:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1737#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1737\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\"},\"headline\":\"A New Socialist Bartender Is Giving Democrat Elites Headaches\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-28T16:10:23+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1737\"},\"wordCount\":881,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1737#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/1802e38721dadd67dc54cd10bdf65c72.avif\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1737#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1737\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1737\",\"name\":\"A New Socialist Bartender Is Giving Democrat Elites Headaches - Blue Route Journal\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1737#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1737#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/1802e38721dadd67dc54cd10bdf65c72.avif\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-28T16:10:23+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1737#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1737\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1737#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/1802e38721dadd67dc54cd10bdf65c72.avif\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/1802e38721dadd67dc54cd10bdf65c72.avif\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":675},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=1737#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"A New Socialist Bartender Is Giving Democrat Elites Headaches\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Blue Route Journal\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A New Socialist Bartender Is Giving Democrat Elites Headaches - Blue Route Journal","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1737","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A New Socialist Bartender Is Giving Democrat Elites Headaches - Blue Route Journal","og_description":"Another far-Left socialist bartender running for governor in the American heartland is giving Democrats a fresh headache as the party reels from deep ideological divisions and mounting financial woes.Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old dues-paying member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is leading the crowded field in Wisconsin\u2019s Democratic gubernatorial primary in a race Republicans see as ripe for a flip.In the mold of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the state representative\u2019s Left-wing platform calls for a sweeping expansion of government into everyday life, including abolishing ICE, imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers, creating government-owned grocery stores, and providing universal childcare and paid leave for all.Hong also supports legalizing marijuana to fund high-speed broadband and backs a state-run development bank, a 32-hour workweek with no reduction in pay, restoring voting rights to felons, and dramatically reducing the role of prisons and police, according to The Wall Street Journal.\u201cIt\u2019s so stressful to get by these days, and I know a lot about stress. I work in restaurants,\u201d Hong said in a campaign launch video. \u201cI\u2019m a service worker, community organizer, and a mom. I work for a living, always have, still do.\u201d\u00a0\u201cThe system is rigged. I\u2019m running for governor to fix it. For years, we\u2019ve been told that doing better is impossible. Well, let me tell you, that\u2019s bullsh*t,\u201d she added.\u00a0Hong also called for abolishing the U.S. Senate in a February 2021 social media post. In a statement to Fox News, Hong\u2019s campaign denied that she had ever called for eliminating the upper chamber: \u201cRep. Hong has never called for abolishing the U.S. Senate. Tiffany cannot produce a single statement where she did, because it doesn\u2019t exist.\u201dThe leftist populist platform has resonated with much of the Wisconsin Democratic base, triggering a last-minute scramble among establishment leaders who fear that nominating a socialist in a state that President Trump won could hand the governor\u2019s mansion to Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, the expected GOP nominee.Recent polling shows Hong with a double-digit lead over established politicians, including former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who suspended his gubernatorial bid before reviving it two weeks later with the backing of outgoing Democratic Governor Tony Evers.\u00a0\u201cThe Republican Governors Association is bankrolling millions right now, not to attack a Democrat, but to boost one, because they\u2019ve decided which Democratic nominee they can beat in November,\u201d Crowley said, explaining his decision to get back into the race.\u00a0\u201cThat is a five-alarm warning sign. We cannot let the GOP choose the Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin,\u201d he added.\u00a0NBC News recently uncovered old social media posts linking Crowley to a pseudonymous X account called \u201cDirt McGirk,\u201d which the outlet said featured racist, sexist, and homophobic posts between 2010 and 2014. Crowley insisted other people had access to the X burner account and condemned the derogatory posts.\u00a0The August 11 primary will test the appeal of democratic socialists in the industrial Midwest, following a string of victories in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Denver. Prediction markets overwhelmingly favor Hong to win the primary.\u00a0\u00a0A similar battle is playing out right next door in the U.S. Senate race in Michigan, where Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens is working overtime to fend off a stronger-than-expected challenge from leftist Abdul El-Sayed, who is leading in most polls.The contentious race took an unexpected turn when a black Farmington school board member backing Stevens urged El-Sayed to stop embracing his Muslim identity on the campaign trail.\u201cThe other candidate seems to be \u2026 doesn\u2019t work a room. You have to know how to work the room. Don\u2019t come out speaking only Arabic,\u201d Angie Smith said at a Stevens campaign event. \u201cDon\u2019t come out with your Arabic music on. Represent everyone.\u201d\u201cYou know, I\u2019m the mother of a lesbian. I\u2019m Puerto Rican and Cherokee, with a grandfather that was a white man from Ireland. Represent us all. Don\u2019t just represent one ethnicity or one race,\u201d she added.The Democratic Party\u2019s heartburn, spilling out of deep-blue cities and into purple battleground states, comes as the cash-strapped DNC sinks deeper into internal turmoil.DNC chairman Ken Martin is descending into fear and \u201ca growing sense of paranoia\u201d about his job security, The New York Times reported on Sunday. The chairman \u2014 responsible for fundraising, party operations, and campaign infrastructure \u2014 is \u201crelying on a vanishingly small circle of people he trusts.\u201d\u00a0And for good reason.\u00a0Heading into the midterms, the financial gap between the parties is striking. President Trump has amassed a $400 million war chest, the RNC has another $130 million available, and the DNC is reportedly about $2 million in debt, according to The New York Times.\u201cThis is not sustainable,\u201d said MS NOW host Joe Scarborough. \u201cAnyone who cares about the Democratic Party \u2014 including Ken Martin \u2014 would say \u2018Enough.\u2019 The DNC is flat broke. This must change now.\u201d","og_url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1737","og_site_name":"Blue Route Journal","article_published_time":"2026-07-28T16:10:23+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1737#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1737"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c"},"headline":"A New Socialist Bartender Is Giving Democrat Elites Headaches","datePublished":"2026-07-28T16:10:23+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1737"},"wordCount":881,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1737#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1802e38721dadd67dc54cd10bdf65c72.avif","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1737#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1737","url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=1737","name":"A New Socialist Bartender Is Giving Democrat Elites Headaches - 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