State Representative Francesca Hong is a member of Wisconsin’s 76th Assembly District. Hong, a Democratic Socialist, is the first Asian American member of the Wisconsin Legislature, and she is also a candidate in the Democratic primary for the 2026 election of the state’s governor.

From 5-6 p.m. on Feb. 9 in Centennial Hall 2927, Hong attended the UW-Eau Claire College Democrats meeting, where she introduced herself, her policies and her plan for action if elected governor. She was accompanied by State Representative Christian Phelps.

Hong, a second-generation Wisconsinite, is the daughter of immigrants who arrived in the United States in the 1980s. She was born and raised in Madison, where her father pursued a doctorate in sociology, and her mother pursued a degree in education at UW-Madison.

Hong attended UW-Madison herself for a period of time but said she dropped out to pursue cooking. She held multiple minimum-wage jobs as a line cook and dishwasher, eventually working her way up to executive chef at the age of 23 and later running her own restaurant from 2016 to 2024.

Hong said she is currently a single mother who rents her home in Madison and still bartends and picks up restaurant shifts occasionally.

According to Hong, she decided to run for office in 2020 because it was a “moment of chaos and crisis.”

“My community asked me to run because I think they were ready for a working class voice, a foul-mouthed mom who was yelling at Robin Vos on Twitter a lot and maybe someone from the restaurant industry,” Hong said. “I like to get sh*t done. That’s maybe the representation that we haven’t had before but that people deserve.”

Hong launched her grassroots campaign for Wisconsin governor in September of 2025, which is funded by individuals instead of corporate political action committees. She said she knew she wouldn’t raise the most money, but she is focused on raising the most voices. 

Hong opened up a Q&A-style discussion for the UW-Eau Claire students who attended the meeting. One student asked Hong about her most recent accomplishments in the Wisconsin legislature. 

According to Hong, she is most proud to have introduced Assembly Bill 48, Healthy School Meals for All, which would provide free breakfast and lunch to all children in Wisconsin K-12 schools. 

Hong said she also supported 2023 Wisconsin Act 266, which mandated the inclusion of Asian American and Hmong American history and culture in Wisconsin K-12 school curriculum.

Hong’s policies include, but are not limited to, providing universal child care for every family in Wisconsin, guaranteeing paid leave and ensuring a livable wage. 

“I remember going to work sick as a line cook because I didn’t want to lose hours,” Hong said. “I was working two minimum wage jobs, and it wasn’t an option for me to stay home and take care of myself. I wanted to make rent. No one should have to make those choices in Wisconsin.”

Another student asked Hong how she would address income inequality and ensure livable wages across the state. Hong said she is part of the “20 for ‘26” initiative, which supports increasing the minimum wage to $20 per hour.

“But that isn’t a living wage in a lot of places across the state. So multiple parts: We have to eliminate the $2.33 per hour tipped minimum wage,” Hong said. “And then we have to make sure that local governments have the ability to raise their local minimum wage.”

Another student said they were wondering about Hong’s plan to repeal former Governor Scott Walker’s 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, known as the Wisconsin Budget Adjustment Act, which eliminated the ability for public sector workers to unionize.

“Whether it’s in the courts or through legislation, we will repeal Act 10,” Hong said. “Then we are talking about putting a stake in it … ensuring that it can’t ever resurface.”

Hong also answered students’ questions regarding her efforts to promote gun safety, legalize cannabis, support the rights of transgender individuals and address the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.

Hong said she would focus on gun safety within her first 100 days as governor, if elected. She said she does not believe in military weaponry such as assault rifles but supports responsible gun ownership.

According to Hong’s website, this includes “responsible gun markets with licensed dealers, background checks, red flag laws, safe storage requirements, reasonable waiting periods and a ban on sales to domestic abusers.”

In regard to AI data centers, Hong said her biggest concerns are transparency and accountability.

“I don’t want the state doing business with businesses that are operating in deficits without a clear forecast that they’re going to make money, in an industry that’s going to take away jobs,” Hong said. “I don’t see the short-term or long-term economic benefit for communities, and I’m very concerned about the impact on our natural resources.”

After the meeting, the students were able to speak with Hong and Phelps individually.

Alison Selje, a third-year environmental public health student, said she supports Hong’s minimum wage policy and would like to see that in action.

“I could very much tell she cares about the community,” Selje said. “That is something that we desperately need in politics, as someone else who wants to go into public service for the desire of giving back.”

The primary election for governor of Wisconsin will take place on Aug. 11, 2026, and the gubernatorial election will take place on Nov. 3, 2026.

For those interested in attending the UW-Eau Claire College Democrats meetings, they are held from 5-6 p.m. on Mondays in Centennial 2927.

Matczak can be reached at [email protected].