Former gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong is embarking on a statewide tour that an aide said is intended to keep the progressive movement she created engaged while urging supporters to vote for a Dem trifecta this fall.
Hong, a Dem lawmaker from Madison, touted the tour on social media Monday. It was her first post on X since Aug. 12, when she thanked supporters in her narrow loss to David Crowley and expressed her support for the Milwaukee County executive in taking on U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, in the governor’s race.
The tour comes as some have questioned whether Hong would actively campaign for Crowley since appearing at a Dem unity breakfast the day after the Aug. 11 primary.
Becky Cooper, who served as Hong’s campaign manager and is now director for We Make Better Possible, said the lawmaker will make an explicit pitch to her supporters to turn out for Dems to help win control of both houses while keeping the governor’s office.
Cooper also said Hong has tried to keep an open line of communication with the Crowley campaign.
“It’s always been to make sure that we get a trifecta,” Cooper said in a phone interview. “She said that before the primary and ever since: we have to ensure that we keep the governor’s office.”
The first stop of the We Make Better Possible Trifecta Tour will be Saturday in Milwaukee, followed by Beloit on Sunday. The effort then plans stops in Green Bay and Oshkosh the weekend of Oct. 10-11, with an event in Madison Oct. 18 and others in Ashland, Stevens Point and Menomonie. The details of the final three spots were still being worked out.
Cooper said other candidates will be welcome to put up a table at the events but won’t be part of the speaking program at any of the stops. Along with remarks from Hong, the events will feature music.
Cooper declined to say if the effort was a sign of plans for a future political bid by Hong. The lawmaker didn’t immediately return a call from WisPolitics yesterday.
After a speech to the Wisconsin Counties Association yesterday, Crowley didn’t say if any of his former primary rivals will campaign with him in the weeks before the election. The Milwaukee County executive said that his primary opponents “have been out there campaigning” and pointed to a unity breakfast the party had the day after the primary that featured Hong as well as former gubernatorial rivals state Sen. Kelda Roys and former DOA Secretary Joel Brennan.
“We’re moving forward,” he said. “Can’t move forward looking in a rearview mirror.”
Roys, Brennan and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes didn’t immediately return calls from WisPolitics yesterday seeking comment on any plans they have to campaign for Crowley ahead of the November election.
The 365 Leadership Summit announced yesterday Barnes will lead a panel discussion on “The Weight Leaders Carry” during the group’s Oct. 19 event at The Center for Black Excellence and Culture.