Democrats Still Struggling Over ‘Defund Police’ Question

Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong is once again facing questions about her previous calls to abolish police after declining to directly answer whether she still supports the idea. The issue has resurfaced as Hong leads the Democratic primary field and public safety becomes a central issue in Wisconsin’s closely watched governor’s race.

During an appearance Tuesday at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Politico reporter Jonathan Martin repeatedly asked Hong whether she still believes police departments should eventually be abolished. The questions followed a recent Democratic debate in which Hong pledged not to support efforts to cut law enforcement funding.

Instead of giving a direct yes-or-no response, Hong shifted the conversation toward broader criminal justice reforms and increased investment in community programs.

“This system is not working,” Hong said. “If we want to be serious, we need to invest in programs that we know help prevent crime.”

When Martin again asked whether police abolition remains her long-term goal, Hong avoided a direct answer and instead emphasized creating what she described as “systems of care” while redirecting certain criminal justice resources. Shortly afterward, a campaign aide ended the exchange and escorted Hong away.

“I believe we have to be serious about public safety,” Hong said. “I’m going to be a governor who is focused on building systems of care that help keep communities safe.”

Hong Campaign Says Her Core Beliefs Have Not Changed

The following day, Hong’s campaign acknowledged that while her messaging has evolved, her underlying views have remained consistent.

Campaign Communications Director Allison Geyer told Fox News Digital that Hong has previously described police and prison abolition as a long-term aspiration rather than an immediate policy proposal.

“Rep. Hong has previously described abolishing police and prisons as a long-term ideal, comparing it to goals such as eliminating poverty or curing disease,” Geyer said. “While her core beliefs remain the same, the way she communicates those views has evolved.”

The comments are likely to keep attention focused on one of the most debated issues in the Wisconsin governor’s race as voters weigh competing visions for public safety.

Democratic Debate Put Public Safety in the Spotlight

Earlier Tuesday, moderators asked Hong and the four other Democratic candidates whether they would approve a state budget that reduced funding for police departments.

All five candidates said they would not.

Hong argued that governing requires practical solutions rather than campaign slogans.

“The governor cannot simply defund police,” she said. “I am focused on making Wisconsin safer and taking public safety seriously.”

The exchange highlighted how concerns over crime and law enforcement continue to play a major role in statewide elections, with both parties expected to emphasize public safety throughout the campaign.

Past Calls to Defund and Abolish Police Resurface

The renewed scrutiny stems largely from Hong’s comments following the 2020 police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha.

Following federal prosecutors’ decision in 2021 not to bring charges against the officer involved in the shooting, Hong took to social media to sharply criticize law enforcement, urging that police departments be defunded and ultimately dismantled.

She argued that policing upheld systemic racial injustice and said reform efforts alone would not solve the problem.

More recently, however, Hong has emphasized that she supports funding public safety while also holding officers accountable when misconduct occurs.

“There is no way I want to reduce resources for public safety,” Hong previously said. “I don’t like crime. I don’t like unsafe streets. I also don’t like when members of law enforcement abuse their power.”

On Tuesday, Hong’s campaign also said she did not remember making another 2021 social media post calling to abolish the U.S. Senate after President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial ended in acquittal.

Current Platform Focuses on Criminal Justice Reform

Hong’s current campaign platform does not propose eliminating police departments or reducing police budgets.

Instead, her public safety agenda calls for expanding non-carceral crime prevention programs, increasing reentry services for former inmates, implementing red flag laws, requiring universal background checks, and strengthening firearm safe-storage requirements.

While the platform promotes significant criminal justice reforms, it does not advocate abolishing police departments.

New Poll Shows Hong Leading Democratic Primary

A Marquette Law School poll released Wednesday found Hong leading the Democratic primary with 38% support, up significantly from 26% just one week earlier.

Mandela Barnes followed with 16%, while David Crowley received 7%. Approximately 34% of Democratic voters remain undecided, indicating the race is still far from settled.

The survey questioned 407 likely Democratic primary voters and reported a margin of error of plus or minus 6.6 percentage points.

Republicans See Opportunity in November

As Hong gains momentum in the Democratic primary, some members of her party worry that her past positions on law enforcement and criminal justice could become a major issue if she faces expected Republican candidate Tom Tiffany in November.

Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki accused Republicans of attempting to influence the Democratic primary by promoting a candidate they believe would be easier to defeat in November.

Meanwhile, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joel Brennan argued that Republican advertising is highlighting Hong’s past statements because they believe her positions on abolishing police and prisons are outside Wisconsin’s political mainstream.

According to filings with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission cited by WisPolitics, the Republican Governors Association has spent nearly $3.6 million on television advertising portraying Hong as a far-left candidate while emphasizing policy positions expected to resonate with progressive Democratic primary voters.

Why the Wisconsin Governor Race Matters

The Wisconsin governor’s race is expected to become one of the nation’s most closely watched elections, with public safety, crime, and law enforcement likely to remain among the defining issues of the campaign.

As Hong continues to lead the Democratic primary, Republicans are expected to keep highlighting her previous statements about abolishing police in an effort to persuade independent and suburban voters that her views fall outside the political mainstream. How Wisconsin voters respond to those arguments could play a significant role in determining the outcome of one of the country’s most competitive statewide elections.