Francesca Hong's Thanksgiving Tweet Becomes 'Desperate' Attack in Wisconsin Dem Primary
Democratic opponents of frontrunner Hong have seized on a 2020 tweet criticizing Thanksgiving, a strategy observers call a sign of campaign desperation.
Conversation activity · last 24 hours peak 4/hr
Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 11 items across 3 sources · 56m ago. Quotes are verbatim.
Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old democratic socialist and state lawmaker, is the frontrunner in Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial primary held on 2026-08-11. Her moderate opponents, backed by outgoing Gov. Tony Evers and rallying around Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, have attacked a deleted 2020 tweet in which Hong called to "Cancel Thanksgiving," criticizing it as a celebration of colonialism. The Intercept's coverage argues the attacks reflect establishment desperation, noting governors cannot abolish national holidays, while online commenters debate whether the tweet damages her electability with swing voters.
- Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist frontrunner in Wisconsin's 2026-08-11 Democratic gubernatorial primary, faces attacks on a 2020 deleted tweet calling to "Cancel Thanksgiving" as criticism of colonialism.
- The Intercept characterizes these attacks as evidence of campaign desperation by moderate opponents backed by outgoing Gov. Tony Evers, noting governors cannot abolish national holidays.
- Online debate reflects tension between those viewing the tweet as a genuine electoral vulnerability with swing voters and those seeing it as a manufactured distraction from substantive policy.
- Media coverage has focused on the Thanksgiving controversy rather than Hong's stated policy priorities including childcare, data center moratorium, and economic revitalization.
How it unfolded
-
Reaction Online discussion about campaign strategy
Social media users debate whether Hong's Thanksgiving tweet represents a genuine liability with swing voters or if criticism reveals desperation by establishment Democrats.
-
Analysis Intercept publishes defense of Hong
The Intercept publishes an article titled "Francesca Hong's 'Thanksgiving-Gate' Shows Her Detractors Are Totally Out of Ideas," characterizing the attacks as a sign of desperation and noting governors cannot abolish national holidays.
“Francesca Hong, who looks set to become the Democratic Party's nominee for the governor of Wisconsin, is not going to abolish Thanksgiving.”
The Intercept · Mastodon ↗ -
Event Wisconsin Democratic primary held
The primary election takes place on 2026-08-11, with Hong positioned as the frontrunner despite establishment efforts to rally behind David Crowley.
-
Report New York Times and Post amplify Thanksgiving story
Major outlets publish coverage of Hong's Thanksgiving tweet. The New York Times runs a headline "A Democratic Socialist Disparaged Thanksgiving" with "Can Voters Forgive Her?" while the New York Post's Kirsten Fleming imagines a dystopian future under Hong.
- 292 weeks quiet
-
Event Hong discusses proximity to whiteness
In an interview, Hong discusses her wrestling with her "proximity to whiteness," prompting later criticism from Center for American Progress leadership.
- 52 weeks quiet
-
Event Hong posts Thanksgiving criticism
Francesca Hong tweets "Cancel Thanksgiving" during the COVID-19 pandemic, criticizing the holiday as celebration of colonialism and a "superspreader event."
“Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621. If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed Indigenous folx and women so be it.”
Francesca Hong · Mastodon ↗
What people are saying verbatim
“Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621. If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed Indigenous folx and women so be it.”
Francesca Hong, Democratic primary frontrunner · The Intercept ↗ · Dec 31
“Francesca Hong, who looks set to become the Democratic Party's nominee for the governor of Wisconsin, is not going to abolish Thanksgiving.”
The Intercept, News outlet · The Intercept ↗ · Aug 10
“In the kitchens you're in, do people hate Thanksgiving? Because that all feels pretty faculty lounge to me.”
Neera Tanden, Center for American Progress President and CEO · The Intercept ↗ · Aug 10
“Does her tweet about Thanksgiving make her less qualified? Absolutely not. Does it make her less electable? Absolutely.”
JDDJS, Reddit commenter · Reddit ↗ · Aug 10
“Nah, swing voters do exist and they don't want to be guilted over meeting up with their family in November for a nice meal.”
tomorrowdog, Reddit commenter · Reddit ↗ · Aug 10
“I feel like her heart is in the right place, she's just not politician enough, if you know what I mean.”
NimusNix, Reddit commenter · Reddit ↗ · Aug 10
Voices from the web unedited
-
Today’s Democratic gubernatorial primary in Wisconsin has featured increasingly desperate attacks against the frontrunner. https:// theintercept.com/2026/08/11/fr ancesca-hong-thanksgiving-wisconsin-governor
-
Does her tweet about Thanksgiving make her less qualified? Absolutely not. Does it make her less electable? Absolutely. I haven't done a ton of research on Hong, but from what I've seen, I like her and want her to win. And she absolutely can. But acting like the Thanksgiving tweet is a complete non-issue with voters is very naive.
-
I don’t vote in # wisconsin but living right “next door” I care about what goes on there. Interesting perspective in support of # FrancescaHong # DSA candidate who will likely win the # DemocraticPrimary # election for governor, particularly wrt her previous comments about Thanksgiving — that perhaps we’ve been fed a myth that isn’t historically…
-
Let me see here.... My choice is between someone who voted to keep the Epstein files hidden and someone who tweeted "We should cancel Thanksgiving" several years ago. I don't know, this is such a tough choice.... Hmm.... I think I'm gonna have to go with the pedophile protector.
-
You don't get to be a dues paying member of an org and pick and choose such important policies. If it was some niche issue, sure. Not fucking "defund the police". You would never do this with an org you disliked.
-
This is the way. I feel like her heart is in the right place, she's just not politician enough, if you know what I mean. Good luck, from Tennessee.
-
Nah, swing voters do exist and they don't want to be guilted over meeting up with their family in November for a nice meal.
-
Yeah what the fuck is that pivot? The GOP are salivating at being able to actually prove "war on christmas".