WSJ directly criticizes Korean-American governor candidate Francesca Hong, calling her platform 'disastrous'

The Wall Street Journal has directly criticized Francesca Hong, a leading Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor, labeling some of her policy proposals as potentially "disastrous" if enacted. The editorial board highlighted the Korean-American state representative's progressive agenda, noting that while she has gained national attention, her policy platform raises significant concerns.

Hong, who was born in Madison, Wisconsin, to Korean immigrant parents, has been classified as a democratic socialist. Despite this, she leads in most polls against her Democratic primary opponent, David Crowley. The WSJ editorial pointed to recent controversies surrounding Hong's past social media posts, where she advocated for canceling Thanksgiving and abolishing police, though she maintains these are not her current views.

The newspaper detailed several of Hong's campaign promises, including establishing a state-run public bank to lower interest rates for small businesses, introducing a public health insurance option, and proposing a bill for public grocery stores. She also supports repealing union reforms and allowing income tax deductions for union dues. The WSJ noted her pledges to issue state IDs to undocumented immigrants and protect all Wisconsin residents from secret police.

Further policy proposals mentioned include raising the minimum wage to $20, legalizing marijuana, and mandating 60% clean energy by 2030, similar to Michigan's standards. The WSJ sarcastically commented on her proposal to cap utility bills for low-income households at 2% of their income. The editorial also scrutinized her stance on corporate taxes, noting her proposal for a top rate of 8.65%, a significant increase from the current 7.9%, and her past support for a top tax bracket exceeding 17%.

The WSJ argued that such high tax rates would be detrimental to the economy, potentially driving residents away from Wisconsin. The paper suggested that if Hong wins the Democratic nomination, it would create an opportunity for Republican frontrunner Tom Tiffany. The editorial concluded by emphasizing that Wisconsin's statewide elections are decided by swing districts, not academic discussions, implying Hong's platform is out of touch with the state's broader electorate.