Wisconsin state representative Francesca Hong walked back her claim to cancel Thanksgiving in a Wednesday interview on Politico’s Playbook podcast. The self-described democratic socialist now declares it her favorite holiday just days before her primary. She told host Irie Senter that she does not want to cancel the event. “My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving,” Hong said. “Yup. I don’t want to cancel it, I actually love it.”
This sudden shift comes after she previously demanded the holiday end due to its history. Hong confessed to being somewhat of a curmudgeon regarding holidays in general. Yet she insists her views on the celebration have changed over time. “And so I think there, I wanted to make sure that people understood that there are multiple views, but views can evolve,” she stated.
Hong issued a public-service announcement on her X account to “cancel Thanksgiving” in November 2021. Her post claimed the holiday “should have been done in 1621.” She contended the gathering honors colonialism plus the initial superspreader incident that exterminated indigenous folx and women. Similar posts from 2020 were also noted where she wrote, “Cancel Thanksgiving.”
Hong has a history of criticizing many American traditions. She posted grievances about at least seven US holidays including Valentine’s Day and the Fourth of July. In a 2019 post, she wrote about feeling “slightly attacked” when a remote worker changed a computer background to show Christmas trees.
Despite these past attacks, she now highlights her culinary background. Hong mentioned her hospitality experience from running a restaurant for seven, eight years. She told CNN that she made a Thanksgiving meal for her community when she was 16. “I’m a chef, and one of the first meals that I made that was for the community when I was 16 [years old] was a Thanksgiving meal,” Hong said.
Hong faces a primary election on August 11 where she is viewed as the favorite to win. According to The Washington Examiner, no polling data has appeared since Mandela Barnes, the ex-lieutenant governor and primary rival, withdrew. This race matters because she aims to become the Democratic nominee for Wisconsin governor. Her flip-flop on a major family holiday could confuse voters who value consistency.
She still maintains that the day holds pain for some. “But Thanksgiving is also a time that’s incredibly painful for many people in our communities,” she continued. This suggests she has not fully embraced the traditional meaning of the holiday. She seems to be trying to balance her socialist past with a need to appeal to moderate voters.
