By Chuck Quirmbach
For WisPolitics

MILWAUKEE — State Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, on Saturday urged her supporters to vote for a Dem trifecta this fall, including David Crowley for governor, saying it was the best way to keep the democratic socialist movement going forward.

Hong had been largely out of the spotlight since losing the Dem gubernatorial primary to Crowley in August by less than 4,000 votes. She told the Milwaukee audience that not winning that contest “was incredibly painful.”

But she added, “We also don’t have to believe that’s our ending.” Hong added “it’s absolutely vital” to keep the governor’s office in Democratic hands and overcome Republican majorities in the state Senate and Assembly.

That would help keep the democratic socialist movement making gains through fighting for “fully-funded public schools, affordable health care for everyone, clean water, air and land, union rights and labor protections, and a government that’s actually for the people–not the billionaires and oligarchs.”

She had strong words for Crowley’s GOP opponent, U.S. Rep Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua. 

“We cannot risk giving up a potential trifecta to an election-denying, pedophile-protecting, war-supporting, environmental-killing fascist that is Tom Tiffany,” Hong said to cheers.

Hong’s remarks at Black Husky Brewing in the Riverwest neighborhood were the first in an eight-city We Make Better Possible Trifecta Tour backing Democratic candidates. The second stop will be Sunday afternoon in Beloit.

Ahead of Hong’s tour, the Republican Governors Association charged Crowley is “fully embracing Socialist Sweetheart Francesca Hong” and said a Crowley administration would lead to “higher taxes, bigger government, and a Socialist takeover of Wisconsin, leaving Wisconsin families holding the bill.”

Crowley dropped out of the race for governor in early July, saying he didn’t see a path to victory. But with Hong leading in the polls — and establishment Dems worried she couldn’t win against Tiffany — Gov. Tony Evers encouraged Crowley to get back into the race and campaigned for him. Since his victory in August, some have wondered if Hong’s supporters would turn out for the more moderate Crowley.

During a brief interview with WisPolitics, Hong praised Crowley’s efforts to reach out to her former backers. “The campaign is trying to be everywhere,” Hong said. 

Hong also said that Crowley’s call for a higher minimum wage and more funding for public education “are policies that are deeply important to our supporters, and we’re going to continue talking about that on the (campaign) trail.”

Hong said Crowley “absolutely” has time to do more reaching out before the Nov. 3 election.

But some former Hong voters, who said they now back Crowley, were a bit worried.

Dominic Rodriguez wants Crowley, who backs tighter controls on data centers, to match Hong’s campaign call for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction. He has instead called for new state guardrails and giving local communities final say over proposed data centers.  

“I’m hoping he (Crowley) changes his mind about that,” Rodriguez said.

Jill Sobel said Crowley is far behind Hong when it comes to doing outreach on social media, adding Crowley needs to make more public speeches in Milwaukee. 

“Very disappointing,” Sobel said.

Black Husky co-owner Tim Eichinger said he knows and likes Crowley. But Eichinger said the Democrat could have a more active presence. 

“More activity, more energy. I just don’t feel it. I just don’t really feel that there’s enthusiasm there,” Eichinger said.

Eichinger urged Crowley to work on “making people excited about him” and focus less on Tiffany. Eichinger said there was still time for the county executive to do that.

Hong downplayed any talk of a rift in the Democratic Party and noted party representatives were in the Milwaukee crowd, along with several progressive groups. 

Hong said she’ll do what she can to help Crowley with a variety of voters, including stops at college campuses around the state. 

Hong said she won’t run for mayor of Madison next year and waved off talk of running for other public offices or the possibility of working in a Crowley administration.  

“Right now, I am not thinking about anything but a (Democratic) trifecta,” Hong said.