Francesca Hong's Razor-Thin Defeat Highlights U.S. Progressive Wave

[Anchor]

A second-generation Korean American running for governor of Wisconsin, Francesca Hong, is drawing intense attention in the United States. Although she narrowly lost today (August 12) in a razor-thin primary to select the Democratic candidate, her campaign is seen as a symbolic demonstration of the progressive wave blowing through American politics.

From Washington, correspondent Lee Hanseok has this report.

[Reporter]

Francesca Hong is a chef in her 30s, a single mother, and the first Asian American member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in history.

Describing herself as a "democratic socialist" among the most progressive within the Democratic Party, she entered the Democratic gubernatorial primary and gained explosive popularity with sharp progressive pledges, including universal free childcare and a minimum wage hike.

[Francesca Hong / Democratic Wisconsin Gubernatorial Primary Candidate: Voters are telling me they want permanent housing affordability measures. They are also demanding that we tax the ultra-wealthy and drive corrupt figures out of politics.]

Following a string of victories by progressive candidates in places like Michigan and Minnesota recently, whether Hong would advance to the general election became a hot topic of interest across the entire United States.

President Trump launched a fierce offensive targeting Hong, calling her a communist, and the Democratic mainstream has also shown wariness, arguing she lacks general election competitiveness.

[Trump / U.S. President (August 6): Even in Wisconsin, among the communists, there is even a woman who argues that Thanksgiving should be abolished immediately.]

After a tight race, Hong lost to centrist candidate Crowley by a margin of 0.41 percentage points, or about 3,200 votes, but analysts say she has once again confirmed the potency of the progressive wave within the U.S.

[Francesca Hong / Democratic Wisconsin Gubernatorial Primary Candidate: From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely thank each and every one of you for fighting so fiercely.]

Analysts suggest that young people and the working class, exhausted by inequality such as unemployment, high prices, and housing insecurity, are enthusiastic about progressive candidates championing democratic socialism.

Although the bold challenge by the second-generation Korean American politician, which shook a key battleground state, ended in an unfinished mission, the progressive fervor in American politics is expected to continue.

(Photo: Yonhap News) (Video footage: Park Eunha | Video editing: Oh Youngtaek)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.