(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Why Hong Can Win [1] ['Mother Mags', 'Wafflehacker Aka Joshhacks', 'Kelli Anne Busey'] Date: 2026-08-07 But let’s rewind back to 2016. Michigan is about to have a primary for president. Hillary represented the establishment. Even to the anger of progressives. Let’s be clear, the DNC at the time wanted Hillary to be the nominee. Two swing states had primaries coming up Michigan and Wisconsin. Every poll in Michigan had Bernie losing to Clinton by double digits. Wisconsin was within the margin of error. Bernie won by one point in Michigan and he won by eleven in Wisconsin. Bernie even carrying 71 of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The DNC convention had all the establishment figures there. Obamas, Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton,Michael Bloomberg and VP candidate Tim Kaine. Yes, Bernie Sanders did show up and make a speech to be fair. But how many people watched Bernie’s speech than turned it off. Why am I writing this? Because the people who voted for Bernie stayed home in 2016 and to be fair 2024. In fact Some could make the argument that they been staying home since the start of the start of Bush Administration. Al Gore and John Kerry seemed like straight out central casting compared to someone like Howard Dean. The more moderate wing of the Democratic Party has been fighting the left for years. Even the fight over to put a public option in the ACA showed us the centrists true colors. But to be fair. Biden did do some good things. The Pact Act, Chips Act, Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Bill. Biden was the deal maker to get things done. But that did not quell the anger over the bigger issues. Massive income inequality, Job that are not paying a fair wage, and a rigged system that honors how many congressmen can you buy. College degrees that are unattainable without going into massive amounts of debt. Plus most of them you can’t find a job in your field so you are working with someone with no college degree making more than you. America has become an oligarchy where a few elites at the top have more influence and making more than the bottom half of America. With this in mind, can you really blame them for being pissed off. The establishment has basically told them that their needs are not important and they need to support the status quo. Progressive policies have never come easy. I mean it took a depression that made us realize that we need safety nets in place. It took a recession to make people realize that we need bank regulations when bank executives got bonuses for foreclosing on houses. Trumps presidential accomplishment is the Butt- Ugly Bill. A bill that is someone similar to the revenue bills signed during the 20s. Medicaid and SNAP didn’t exist in the 20s but all the tax previsions are close to the 20s Republicans. But back to my point. The Wisconsin Voter The term swing state is not entirely accurate when it comes to Wisconsin. I guess it swings back in the nature of government. We got from McCallum to Doyle to Walker to Evers. In that way I can agree with you guys saying it’s a swing state. We can elect a Senator like Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson. But the voter is entirely different. Wisconsinites by nature are very progressive. They will vote for someone like Donald Trump but support paid family leave, higher wages and complain how the ultra wealthy are screwing us over. If candidate seems like a cardboard candidate it’s a no-go. Even if there views are aligned. Does this sound like someone you know? Let me know in the comments. What does this all mean for Francesca Hong? Fran is tapping into an anger that has been brewing for years now. But now it has gotten worse. Income inequality has not gotten better. Prices haven’t gone down. Wages have not risen. People are struggling more than ever and the establishment is not doing that much to acknowledge it. What is the establishment? This is a question that has come up a lot. Instead of establishment. Let’s call them the consultant class. These are people who appear on CNN, MS Now and other networks who pretend to know how people vote. The truth is they don’t. They don’t live in rural Wisconsin. Francesca Hong benefited from the results of Michigan’s primary. Because Wisconsin is more progressive than Michigan. Bernie won Michigan by a point in 2016 and won Wisconsin by almost 15. Even winning 71 of the 72 counties. But her tweets???? Most of the people don’t really care to be honest. They just want to afford groceries, pay the bills and live comfortably. Right now that is not happening. Republicans and frankly Governor Evers has made a big deal about various tweets that she has made. But most people realize that sometimes we say something we regret. But Fran is out there campaigning on issues that most of us want. That’s why it’s not hurting her in the polls. Fran will win the primary and it won’t be close. This idea that you have to be a centrist to win in Wisconsin is just not true. I would say you have to be a populist to win in Wisconsin. Scott Walker and Donald Trump both won state wide. Evers ran on fix the damn roads, Tammy Baldwin is one of the most liberal Senators in Washington. Don’t forget that Hong’s seat was Chris Taylor’s seat who won by 60% on her court race. Hong also has a good shot at winning the general as well being that Trump’s approval is 40% and Tom Tiffany is Trump endorsed. 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