AOC declines endorsement of Hong in Wisconsin governor race

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Sunday declined to endorse Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist running in Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor. AOC said she was focused on helping Democrats regain control of the House and Senate in the 2024 elections.

AOC’s stance reflects a broader divide within the Democratic Party between progressive factions and establishment-backed candidates. Wisconsin’s primary, set for Aug. 11, pits Hong—a state assembly member and former restaurant owner—against longtime state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski in the race to challenge Republican Gov. Tony Evers. Hong has drawn support from national progressive groups like the Democratic Socialists of America, while Godlewski has backing from party leaders and corporate donors. AOC’s refusal to weigh in signals a strategic choice: prioritizing federal races where Democrats’ slim majorities could flip with targeted support.

Hong’s campaign has framed her run as a fight against corporate interests in state government, a message that resonates with young voters and labor activists. But AOC’s silence highlights the tension between progressives who want to push the party leftward and moderates aiming to avoid alienating swing voters. The Wisconsin race is one of several key primaries this year where progressive and establishment Democrats are clashing over the party’s direction ahead of November.

AOC’s decision could influence how other high-profile progressives allocate their limited campaign resources. While she didn’t explicitly criticize Hong, her focus on congressional races suggests Democrats see those as the likelier path to policy wins in the short term. For Hong, the lack of a major progressive endorsement could make fundraising and grassroots organizing harder in a crowded primary. The outcome in Wisconsin will test whether democratic socialism can break through in a purple state—or if establishment Democrats will continue to dominate the party’s electoral strategy.