Republicans assembled a 349-page dossier on Democrat Francesca Hong before her primary loss
A Republican campaign prepared a detailed 349-page opposition file on Wisconsin Democrat Francesca Hong, which was released after she lost the gubernatorial primary.
Ahead of a potential November face-off, the campaign of Republican Tom Tiffany assembled a 349-page opposition research dossier on state legislator Francesca Hong. Labeled “privileged and confidential,” the document catalogued Hong’s voting record and public remarks on topics such as policing, immigration, racial equity and transgender rights. It referenced her 2020 comment that gentrification amounted to “violence” against Black residents, her 2021 backing of a resolution calling systemic racism a public-health crisis, and her past description of ICE agents as “terrorists” and “fascists.”
The research also noted her endorsement of a taxpayer-funded task force on intersex and gender-nonconforming issues and her opposition to legislation mandating gender categories for school sports teams. After Hong’s loss in the Democratic primary, the extensive file will not be used in a general-election matchup. The release of the material provides insight into the depth of Republican preparatory work for statewide races.
Why it matters
It shows how extensive opposition research can shape campaign strategies and influence voter perceptions.
How this story developed
- Jul 28 Early Voting Starts Amid Turbulent Wisconsin Democratic Governor Primary
- Aug 12 Flanagan secured the Democratic nomination with about 59% of the vote.
- Aug 12 With three‑quarters of votes counted, Hong and Crowley are separated by less than one point, keeping the Democratic nomination undecided.
- Aug 12 State Rep. Francesca Hong, a Democratic Socialists of America member, lost to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley in Wisconsin's Democratic governor primary.
- Aug 12 Wisconsin holds its Democratic gubernatorial primary with Francesca Hong and David Crowley as the final contenders.
- Aug 12 Crowley will face Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in the November general election.
- Aug 12 Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated state Rep. Francesca Hong in Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, positioning a moderate against a DSA-aligned candidate.
- Aug 13 Crowley won the primary by 0.4 percentage points, with results reported as 39.8% to 39.4%.
- Aug 13 Governor Tony Evers actively campaigned for David Crowley in the Democratic primary.
- Aug 13 Mike Rogers has continued to cite the 2019 Hasan Piker comment in campaign materials.
- Aug 13 The Green Party nominated Shane Dedrick, prompting accusations of a possible Republican infiltration.
- Aug 13 Hong earned roughly 312,000 votes, finishing about 3,000 votes behind David Crowley.
- Aug 14 Senator Bernie Sanders explained that limited resources force his team to be selective with endorsements and praised Hong’s grassroots campaign.
- Aug 14 State Republicans have begun tying the Feeding Our Future fraud investigation to Flanagan’s campaign.
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