Democratic socialist Francesca Hong just took the stage at her election night party around 11:30 p.m. central with the Wisconsin governor’s primary still far too close to call.
“I know we don’t have the final results right now, but what I do know is that we are ready to keep fighting, and I feel confident,” she told the crowd of hundreds, which had begun to thin as the night wore on.
She thanked her supporters, saying she was “deeply, deeply grateful to my core for how hard you have all fought” and proud of having “built a beautiful, multi-generational, multi-partisan, multiracial working-class movement.”
Minutes after Hong walked off the stage, a campaign official took the microphone and appeared to end the party, telling the crowd to “have a good night.”
Hong is essentially tied with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley — a surprising twist after she had been leading in public polls by double digits ahead of election night. National progressive leaders had largely sat out of the race, with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declining to endorse or appear on the trail for Hong, who’s faced questions over her electability in the general election.
Hong’s speech to supporters focused excessively on unity. At one point, when chants rang out of “we will win,” Hong responded: “We will win, together, united.”
“No matter who wins this primary, we’re going to continue to fight for each other,” she said. “We are going to collectively reject despair, and we are going to unite.”
Emilio Perez Ibarguen contributed to this report.
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