Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is urging voters to focus on what Francesca Hong is saying and proposing now rather than making the candidate’s past statements the central issue, according to reports. Ocasio-Cortez has not endorsed Hong and has said her attention is on the broader effort to win back control of Congress.
Hong, a Democratic socialist running in the Wisconsin governor’s race, has faced scrutiny over earlier comments and social-media activity. Coverage has focused on a past post described as suggesting that Thanksgiving should be canceled, as well as previous remarks associated with the “defund the police” movement.
Ocasio-Cortez appeared to dismiss the significance of those earlier positions, referring to the period as “Woke 1” and saying it “was crazy.” Her comments reflect a broader argument that candidates should be judged primarily on their current views and priorities, while critics continue to question whether past statements could affect Hong’s appeal to voters.
The controversy comes as Hong seeks to define her campaign in a competitive Democratic contest. The debate over her record is likely to remain part of the race, particularly as voters weigh calls to move beyond earlier rhetoric against demands for accountability for past comments.
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