MADISON – The Republican Governors Association is set to spend nearly $2.2 million in the weeks leading up to the gubernatorial primary boosting footage of democratic socialist candidate Francesca Hong pledging to bring Wisconsin “back to our progressive roots.”
The ad, which highlights Hong’s support for legislation that would ban state and local government officials from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, describes Hong as “too liberal for Wisconsin” as she and four other Democrats compete for the party’s gubernatorial nomination.
The 30-second spot from Right Direction PAC opens with footage of Hong’s June 30 interview with left-wing commentator Hasan Piker – an influential but controversial figure within Democratic circles for his rhetoric on Israel and U.S. foreign policy.
“We are the campaign that will actually go back to our progressive roots,” Hong says in the footage.
The ad goes on to reference Hong’s opposition to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and her calls to “abolish ICE.”
It also references a package of bills she introduced as a state legislator that would, among other things, end state and local cooperation with ICE, fund legal aid for immigrants facing deportation and require police to identify themselves during arrests.
“That will weaken public safety and make us less safe,” the narrator says.
It’s set to air July 16 through Aug. 16, with more than $1.2 million allocated to the Milwaukee market and more than $811,000 to the Madison market. The buy also includes more than $112,000 to air the ad on CNN and the liberal MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) in the Green Bay market.
Democratic observers say the buy is an effort to prop up Hong ahead of the Aug. 11 primary so she’ll be the candidate Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany faces in November.
Politico reported last month that GOP-aligned groups spent more than $4.3 million in recent Democratic primary races in Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Nebraska and Maine in hopes of boosting candidates viewed as less viable in a general election.
“Tom Tiffany and his allies know they can’t defend their failed agenda that’s jacking up costs for Wisconsin families. So rather than even try they’re resorting to trying to pick an opponent they think they can beat. It’s pathetic and entire predictable,” said Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki.
“Every Democratic campaign for governor – including Hong’s – should call this out for what it is: a sneaky, underhanded, blatant attempt to meddle in the democratic process,” Zepecki said.
Asked about the strategy behind the ad and whether it’s an effort to steer primary voters toward Hong, RGA spokesperson Kollin Crompton offered a statement: “It’s time that Wisconsin voters start to learn just how dangerously liberal Democrat frontrunner Francesca Hong truly is. Hong wants to make Wisconsin a progressive safe haven where police don’t cooperate with ICE and communities are less safe.”
“Once voters learn of her record, they will see that Hong is just too liberal for Wisconsin,” Crompton said.
In response to the contents of the ad, a Hong campaign spokesperson said the candidate “will never apologize for standing with our immigrant neighbors.”
The policies highlighted in the ad, the spokesperson said, “would protect immigrant families here in Wisconsin and ensure that every person can live with safety, dignity and due process.”
“The RGA’s decision to attack Rep. Hong for protecting immigrant families during a week marked by three more ICE-related deaths is deeply disturbing,” said Hong spokesperson Allison Geyer. “The Republican Party has surrendered itself to a bigoted, corrupt administration that is using its power to spread terror and hatred across the country.”
The ad concludes with a repeat of the footage it began with, with Hong saying, “back to our progressive roots” as the narrator says she is “too liberal for Wisconsin.”
“We’ve been called the underdog, the wild card, the radical,” Hong said in a statement. “They continue to underestimate our campaign and underestimate Wisconsin voters. Let them. No one will outwork me and this campaign and we will continue to work to surprise folks and defeat Tom Tiffany in a landslide in November.”
Hong and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes have led the primary field throughout the race, with current Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez gaining momentum in recent weeks until she announced Sunday she had fired her campaign manager as her campaign is in financial crisis.
“Right as the GOP gets confirmation that this is a two person race, they decided to meddle to pick the candidate Tom Tiffany wants to face in November,” said Barnes campaign manager Darby O’Connor in a statement. “This race should be decided by Wisconsin voters, not billionaire MAGA donors.”
The ad comes as every campaign in the Democratic field but Hong’s has purchased advertising airtime. Tiffany has had multiple ads on the air since April geared toward the general election.
Hong will compete against Barnes, current Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, state Sen. Kelda Roys and former Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan in the Aug. 11. primary.
Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Republican group plans ad blitz highlighting Hong; Dems smell a rat
Reporting by Jessie Opoien, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jessie Opoien, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
