Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong distanced herself from past rhetoric on policing, saying she no longer believes police exist to uphold white supremacy and rejecting calls to abolish law enforcement.
“My views have only become stronger in that I’m serious about public safety. And I will not abolish the police,” Hong said on the Pod Save America Podcast Tuesday. “My views are that people are struggling right now and need basic needs met.”
Hong said her focus is on addressing violent crime while ensuring police departments have adequate resources. “I want to focus on stopping violent crime and giving law enforcement the resources and the training that they need. But ensure that we are also holding accountable law enforcement that does not follow the law,” she said.
Hong’s comments mark a notable shift from positions she expressed in 2020, in a post on X, saying, “I support defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police,” after the shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
When asked whether she still believes that claim, Hong said, “no,” noting that her change in perspective stemmed from her six years in the state legislature and conversations with crime victims and historically marginalized communities.
“I’ve had more conversations with people who are more directly connected to the problems, and have learned that, uh, it is most important for a public servant like myself, to make sure we’re looking at sensible, practical solutions that will help keep communities safe,” Hong said.
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Hong argued that effective public safety extends beyond policing to include investments in schools, mental health resources, and local government. She said policymakers should ensure “we’re funding our local governments, that we’re bringing justice to victims,” while also equipping law enforcement with adequate resources.
“What we need to do is make sure that all people all across Wisconsin have access to great public schools, out of school programs, mental health resources, and that we hold law enforcement accountable, but also provide them with the training that they need to help prevent crime and stop crime,” Hong said.