Francesca Hong, a Democratic socialist candidate for Wisconsin governor, recently declared Thanksgiving as her "favorite holiday." Her statement on Wednesday came as she sought to distance herself from past controversial remarks posted on social media.
"My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving," Hong reportedly told Politico Playbook, which characterized her comment on social media as playful. "Yep, I don't want to cancel it. I actually love it."
Hong elaborated that the annual celebration holds significant importance for her family and their in-laws, describing it as a "big event." She also admitted to generally being a "curmudgeon when it comes to holidays in general."
Background on Past Remarks
Hong's recent comments address the considerable criticism she received for a deleted social media post from November 2020. In that post, she appeared to draw parallels between the COVID-19 pandemic and the Thanksgiving holiday.
If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed indigenous folx [sic] and women, so be it.
The post referenced the spread of smallpox, which decimated many Indigenous American populations.
Evolving Perspectives
More recently, during a Monday interview, Hong was asked if she still believed Thanksgiving should be abolished. She hesitated to give a direct affirmative answer, instead offering a more nuanced perspective.
"I’m a chef, and one of the first meals that I made that was for the community when I was 16 [years old] was a Thanksgiving meal," Hong explained. "I always think my hospitality background in owning a restaurant for seven, eight years, that bringing folks around the table to share conversation and build community is always a good thing."
However, Hong acknowledged the holiday's multifaceted nature. "But Thanksgiving is also a time that’s incredibly painful for many people in our communities," she continued. "And, so, I think there, I wanted to make sure that people understood that there are multiple views, but views can evolve."
She also connected her professional background to her political aspirations, stating, "And the position that I'm running for right now, and I think my background as a chef will actually help me become a better governor that's able to bring more people to the table."
Critiques from Opponents
In response to Hong's latest statements, a political commentator named Tiffany expressed skepticism regarding the candidate's sincerity.
Well, considering she also posted, ‘Please DON'T gather for the colonizer holiday,’ and just days ago called Thanksgiving ‘incredibly painful,’ it's hard to believe she now claims it's her favorite holiday. But this goes far beyond Thanksgiving. It's part of the broader socialist message that seeks to tear down the traditions, institutions, and values that bring Americans together.
Tiffany further criticized Hong's political record, asserting that her criticisms extend beyond Thanksgiving.
Whether it's Thanksgiving, Christmas, Culver's, the police or even Valentine's Day, Francesca Hong has spent her entire political career criticizing the very fabric of Wisconsin and the traditions that bring our communities together.
