Wisconsin Rep. Tiffany Warns Socialist Hong Could Spread Ideology

OCONOMOWOC, Wis., Rep. Tom Tiffany is on his way to a victory in Tuesday's Republican primary for governor, yet he warns that the general election could define whether socialism takes root in this Midwestern battleground state. He fears a showdown with socialist state Rep. Francesca Hong might allow left-wing ideology to spread far beyond its current borders.

Speaking to Fox News Digital alongside former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on the eve of the primary, Tiffany argued that Wisconsin could become a firewall against socialism as far-left candidates topple moderate Democrats in primaries across the spring and summer. "Is the heartland going to be the firewall that stops this movement of socialism coming from, especially the East Coast?" he asked. "And I think Wisconsin will be. We'll be the place that stops socialism."

Hong currently leads in polls for the Democratic nomination after a chaotic season where two major contenders dropped out and another re-entered the race. A 37-year-old former chef and single mother, she is an active member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). National progressives like Reps. Ilhan Omar and Ro Khanna back her bid.

Her platform demands guaranteed paid leave, raises the minimum wage from $7.25 to $20 per hour, and bans new AI data centers for one year. Her "TAX THE RICH" plan hikes state income taxes by 1% for couples earning over $431,000 and individuals making more than $323,000.

Hong has faced intense scrutiny over past social media posts calling to defund police and abolish them entirely. She now says she does not support cutting budgets or dismantling departments. "I'm not defunding the police, not abolishing police. I am serious about public safety," Hong told voters on Saturday.

Youngkin went further in his assessment of her stance. "I think what Francesca Hong stands for is the antithesis of America," he said. "She wants to defund police, close prisons. She wants to get rid of the military. She wants to get rid of the presidency." He noted these are core DSA goals and she holds a card-carrying membership. "[Tiffany] is what's gonna be on the ballot against someone who literally wants to deconstruct America," Youngkin added. "This is what this election eventually is gonna be about, common sense against crazy."

The two men spoke after holding a campaign event at a new housing development in an outer western suburb of Milwaukee, where Tiffany unveiled his "Unlocking Homeownership in Wisconsin" agenda. "I just know my friends and neighbors, including some who are Democrats, they are not crazy," Tiffany said. "They do not believe in some of these crazy policies, abolish prisons, abolish police, highest tax rates that you could possibly have. I mean they do not accept that."

Past posts from Hong drew fire, including a 2021 tweet claiming police "exist to uphold white supremacy" and others calling to abolish the U.S. Senate or criticizing Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day. She walked back her holiday comments after backlash and now calls Thanksgiving her favorite day. When reporters asked about her resurfaced tweets on Saturday, she said she had "evolved" and "learned."

Tiffany told Fox News that opponents will try to walk those statements back. "[They are] going to do everything they can to walk them back, but people see through this," he said. "Those flip-flops, people know about that already and they're going to know about it as we go through the final, you know, couple months of the campaign.

They see through that type of stuff when you are not genuine." When Fox News Digital pressed Tiffany to answer her own criticism, Hong dismissed her earlier comments as mere "bad takes." You have some hot takes, sometimes bad takes on Twitter, Hong told reporters after a stop in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. And I let my feelings out into the world.

SPEAKER JOHNSON TURNS DEMOCRATS' SOCIALIST CIVIL WAR INTO NEW WEAPON FOR MIDTERMS Republicans like Tiffany and Youngkin have tried to make Hong's progressive history look like a liability for this battleground state. This is a moment for the heartland of America to stand up for America, Youngkin said about the race.

Tiffany, a hard-right member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and a former dairy farmer who is endorsed by President Donald Trump, emphasized, Some people may not agree with a few of the policies that I'm for, but they know I'm genuine. They know I'm authentic. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Hong has argued that Democratic voters are fed up with the party establishment, claiming her candidacy appeals to a variety of both Democrats and Republicans, who disagree with Trump and his aligned candidates.

Tiffany and Hong enter Tuesday as the frontrunners in their respective primaries, with Tiffany running against medical service technician Andrew Manske, and Hong facing off against three other Democratic candidates, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who is backed by retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, former Wisconsin Department of Administration secretary Joel Brennan, and democratic state Sen. Kelda Roys.