Wisconsin Governor Candidate Backtracks on Police Abolition Stance

Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong, a Democratic socialist running for governor, has clarified her stance on policing after past social media posts called for defunding and abolishing police. Hong previously supported defunding police as a step toward abolition, citing incidents like the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In 2020, she tweeted, 'I support defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police,' and later criticized the lack of charges against the officer who shot Blake. In a recent statement to Fox News Digital, Hong distanced herself from those views, saying, 'There is no way I want to cut resources for public safety.' She did not explicitly reject her past calls for abolition. Blake was shot seven times in 2020 after police responded to a domestic disturbance call. He was armed with a pocket knife, which he picked up before being shot, leaving him partially paralyzed. The incident sparked protests and national debate over policing. Hong's campaign has not detailed specific public safety policies she would pursue as governor.