Francesca Hong faces scrutiny over mental health history and social media posts ahead of Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary.
Democratic socialist Francesca Hong is the frontrunner in the upcoming Wisconsin gubernatorial primary on August 11. However, she faces increasing scrutiny from right-wing media regarding her mental health history and past social media posts. Right-wing outlets have highlighted a 2023 interview where Hong discussed a teenage mental breakdown and a bipolar disorder diagnosis, with some critics labeling the focus on her mental health as a partisan attempt to create stigma. In response to these critiques, Hong emphasized that her personal journey has provided her with empathy and compassion for mental health issues, which she formulates into her policy goals. She also faced questions regarding a 2020 post where she suggested canceling Thanksgiving, a comment that drew criticism from fellow candidates like Kelda Roys. While Hong remains the candidate to beat, she is navigating a2023 interview where she spoke about the numbness of her mental health struggles. She continues to work with a psychiatrist to manage her depression and takes antidepressants as she campaigns for the governorship.