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David Axelrod, one of the architects behind President Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, believes other progressives might stand a better chance of getting elected if, in his view, one of their more unserious candidates loses an upcoming primary.
“It would be good for Abdul El-Sayed if Francesca Hong loses her bid to become the Democratic nominee in Wisconsin next week,” Axelrod wrote in a post to X.
“He is a serious person. She is a font of zany liberal, faculty lounge exotica. But the [Republicans] … would surely try to link Abdul and Hong as philosophical kin.”
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Governor candidate Francesca Hong speaks on stage during the Wisconsin Democrats 2026 Convention on June 14, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (Getty Images for WisDems)
Axelrod’s comments seem to indicate that despite their recent success in the 2026 midterms, not all progressives are viewed equally across the party — that some of them are seen as political liabilities even among themselves.
“This tweet is a perfect example of why the consultant class keeps losing elections. They’re totally clueless, and they’re hellbent on keeping working-class people out of politics,” Hong wrote about Axelrod’s X post. “I’ve spent more time in kitchens than faculty lounges. Perhaps you’d like to come to Wisconsin and work a Friday night dinner rush with me?”
Hong, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly who is running to become the next governor of Wisconsin, has advocated for a wide slew of policies that put her solidly in the progressive camp.
She has called for universal childcare, supports a $20 minimum wage, advocated for the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), believes even noncitizens should have access to state-issued ID, has called for publicly run grocery stores and opposes continued U.S. support for Israel.
Hong is also a self-proclaimed socialist with the backing of the Democratic Socialist of America (DSA).
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Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong, a Democratic Socialist candidate for governor, poses for a portrait at St. Paul Baptist Church on July 19, 2026, in Racine, Wis. (Sara Stathas/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Apart from policy proposals, Hong has also attracted attention for cultural and social issues that have pushed the rhetorical envelope.
She has recently come under scrutiny for past calls for Americans to cancel Thanksgiving because of the spread of smallpox during the colonial era, defund the police because of their reinforcement of White supremacy and even calls to abolish the Senate after the chamber voted to acquit Trump during a failed impeachment effort in 2021.
Although she has tried to push back on some of those resurfaced comments, Hong has also made little effort to paint herself as a moderate.
“I’m a proud democratic socialist. I’m not advancing a brand. I’m focusing on the policies, the socialist policies that improve lives,” Hong told NOTUS last week.
Hong’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment on Axelrod’s post or on whether she believes Republicans will try to discredit other progressives through her positions.
At the outset of the race, Hong was considered a dark horse candidate.
But the race was shaken up last month when Mandela Barnes, the state’s former lieutenant governor, dropped out of the race. Barnes was considered a frontrunner in the race because of his proximity to outgoing Gov. Tony Evers and his name recognition.
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Wisconsin Gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong listens to Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., speak before being introduced during a campaign rally on August 2, 2026 in Milwaukee. Hong, a democratic socialist in the state legislature, has seen an uptick in recent poll numbers. (Joshua Lott/Getty Images)
With his departure, Hong, who had already gained sizable momentum, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley were left as the two main contenders.
Evers has endorsed Crowley, citing his tenure as a public servant.
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Hong now faces a primary election next Tuesday, Aug. 11., after which, if she wins, she will go on to the state’s general election on Nov. 3.
