None of the other 4 took after the poll leader.
Do not sell Francesca Hong short. When she needs to, she can do the “Sidestep,” the song and dance number Charles Durning performed as “The Governor” in Little Best Whorehouse in Texas.
The angry young woman leading the five Democrats running for governor did a lively sidestep in the one and only televised candidates forum Tuesday evening 07-28-26. Didn’t think it possible but State Rep. Hong (D-Madison) actually managed to blame Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos for defunding the police! (A Saul Alinsky tactic.) Like the high-priced spread, got to admire her rhetorical gymnastics.
One thing to call for Defunding the Police at the barricaded Corey Ruiz autonomous zone on Madison’s Willy Street, another to admit to the oft-stated plank of her socialist party for a broadcast that went to voters statewide.
“Invest in the community,” is how Hong blows her anti-cop dog whistle.
Hong has widened her lead in today’s Marquette Law School Poll; we’re not the only ones amazed that the other four, trailing badly, did not put the wood to the Democratic Socialist. Are they afraid?
Today’s Marquette Law School Poll of Democratic primary voters:
1) Francesca Hong 38% — up from 26% last week
2) Mandela Barnes 16% — up from 15%
3) David Crowley 7% — had dropped out but is back in
4) Joel Brennan 2% — up from 1%
5) Kelda Roys 2% — up from 1%.
Undecided: 34%, down from 45% in last week’s poll.
All would raise taxes
All five promised to shovel more money at government-run schools without those pesky conditions. Not one of them vowed to demand any form of accountability — like, maybe, better test scores? All vowed to croak voucher schools except Joel Brennan, who argued that he, perhaps alone among his party, “live[d] in the real world.” Won’t be just Republicans voting to keep school choice, Brennan parried. Milwaukee Democrats represent the parents of 30,000 school choice kids who chose the program. (Used to be governor stood in the school house door keeping students out; now they stand preventing kids from leaving.)
Brennan alone suggested that more state revenue might be realized by increased business growth. Who does this guy think he is, Tommy Thompson?
That kind of realpolitik, unfortunately for the state, is a buzz kill in his party, which is not the party of Patrick Lucey. Doesn’t help that the Mr. Brennan is less stirring than the Motor Vehicles Department waiting room. He’s is polling at 2 percent to Hong’s 38% and got hoisted by his party’s own petard for attacking (however mildly) the three candidates polling better — they being Hong, Barnes, and Crowley — all people of color. Yeah, he got played the race card!
Then Brennan spoiled it by complaining that Wisconsin spends more on incarceration than Minnesota. Three cheers for Tim Walz! Only Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley supported the proposed bipartisan deal — now derailed — to return surplus money to schools and taxpayers. People need the money, he reasoned.
(Early voting has begun for the August 11 election; it’s an open primary.)
Credit to the two interviewers from WISN-TV Milwaukee for pressing Hong and the other four when they attempted the sidestep, which seemed to be their default response, and for asking tough questions. (To Hong: “Do you fully back the DSA platform?” Her answer:
All five active candidates vowed to raise taxes — but only on “the rich.” The Milwaukee moderators asked if that would not drive the wealthy, always mobile, out of the state. This is where Hong jumped the shark (to coin a phrase). Her plans for taxpayer-paid daycare, “fully funded schools,” and legalized pot would keep the high rollers on Wisconsin’s tax rolls, she said.
“I think that we can improve the quality of life for millionaires and insure that they, too, will be able to live, work, and thrive in our state.” — Francesca Hong
Blaska’s Bottom Line: Gold! Pure gold! If any of the others so much as did an eye roll, the camera was elsewhere.
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