--- title: "Ocasio-Cortez declines to endorse Hong in Wisconsin governor race" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/ocasio-cortez-declines-to-endorse-hong-in-wisconsin-governor-race" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/ocasio-cortez-declines-to-endorse-hong-in-wisconsin-governor-race" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/ocasio-cortez-declines-to-endorse-hong-in-wisconsin-governor-race.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/ocasio-cortez-declines-to-endorse-hong-in-wisconsin-governor-race" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-12T08:05:31.805Z" source_reported: "2026-08-11T19:25:02.000Z" updated: "2026-08-12T10:00:17.542Z" trust_score: 74 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 30 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-12T10:00:17.285788+00:00" --- # Ocasio-Cortez declines to endorse Hong in Wisconsin governor race *Progressive lawmaker urges voters to focus on candidates' current positions as Hong faces scrutiny over past remarks* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 74 of 100, higher is better. Trust 74 because multiple outlets name AOC and Hong, and the central claim is directly attributed to AOC herself. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95 as the report explains relevance, quotes key figures, separates facts, and outlines next steps. - Hype 30 of 100, lower is better. Hype 30; headlines are mildly sensational but the article itself remains measured. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declined to endorse Francesca Hong in Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, citing a preference for evaluating candidates on current positions. - Hong, a democratic socialist and state representative, faces scrutiny over past remarks on policing and Thanksgiving, which she later walked back. - Right-rated digests emphasised the absence of endorsements from Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, while the left-rated report focused on Hong’s progressive platform. - The primary, held on 11 August 2026, is seen as a test of whether a Bernie Sanders-style message can succeed in a competitive Midwestern state. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declined to endorse Francesca Hong, a Wisconsin state representative and democratic socialist, in the state’s Democratic gubernatorial primary. Hong is running in the 11 August 2026 primary against five other candidates, including Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. Ocasio-Cortez, speaking to ABC’s Jonathan Karl, said voters should focus on candidates’ current positions rather than past statements, which she referred to as part of a distinct political moment she called “Woke 1”. Hong has faced criticism for past remarks, including support for abolishing the police and comments about Thanksgiving. She later walked back her position on Thanksgiving. The race is viewed as a test of whether a progressive, democratic socialist platform can win in a politically divided Midwestern state. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, is not seeking re-election, leaving the governor’s mansion open for both parties. ## Disagreement over Hong’s response to lack of endorsements Right-rated digests reported that Hong sidestepped a question about why she lacks endorsements from Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Breitbart, Fox News and The Daily Wire each carried versions of this claim. The left-rated report in The American Bazaar did not mention Hong being asked about the endorsements or her response. It is unclear whether Hong addressed the question directly in other settings. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mentioned Hong’s current policy positions or her status as a leading candidate in the primary. The left-rated report did not address whether Hong was asked about the lack of endorsements from Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders or how she responded. The centre-rated digest did not mention Hong’s past remarks on policing or Thanksgiving. ## Who covered it Shares of the 13 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 8% (1) - Centre: 15% (2) - Right: 77% (10) 1 of 14 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-12T10:00:17.285788+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-12T11:00:16.525Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The American Bazaar led on Ocasio-Cortez’s decision not to endorse Hong and her call for voters to judge candidates on current positions. The report described Hong as a “leading candidate” in the primary and framed the race as a test of how far Wisconsin’s Democratic Party can move toward the progressive left. It quoted Ocasio-Cortez’s reference to “Woke 1” as a distinct political moment and noted her refusal to rule out a future presidential or Senate bid. The report also listed Hong’s competitors and mentioned her past remarks on policing and Thanksgiving, though it did not quote her directly on those issues. ### Centre - The Internewscast digest reported that Ocasio-Cortez urged voters to weigh Hong’s current message over her past remarks from the “Woke 1” era. The digest did not mention Hong’s past positions on policing or Thanksgiving, nor did it refer to the lack of endorsements from Ocasio-Cortez or Sanders. ### Right - Eight right-rated digests led on the absence of endorsements from Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders. Breitbart, Fox News and The Daily Wire each reported that Hong sidestepped a question about the lack of endorsements. The Daily Wire’s digest described Hong as “Thanksgiving-hating” and quoted Sanders saying, “I don’t think so,” when asked if he would endorse her. The New York Post and Washington Examiner digests focused on Ocasio-Cortez’s description of “Woke 1” as “crazy” and her defence of Hong’s shift away from past positions. None of the right-rated digests mentioned Hong’s competitors in the primary or the broader context of the race as a test of progressive politics in Wisconsin. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 2 - mixed: 6 - high: 5 - unknown: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/11/socialist-candidate-francesca-hong-sidesteps-answering-why-aoc-and-bernie-sanders-have-not-endorsed-her) — Socialist Candidate Francesca Hong Sidesteps Answering Why AOC and Bernie Sanders Have Not Endorsed Her - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/politics/francesca-hong-asked-about-lack-aoc-endorsement-house-dems-remark-woke-1-era) — Francesca Hong asked about lack of AOC endorsement and the House Dem's remark about the 'Woke 1' era - [The Daily Wire](https://dailywire.com/news/from-piker-to-bernie-nobody-wants-to-be-seen-with-francesca-hong) — From Piker To Bernie, Nobody Wants To Be Seen With Francesca Hong - [Upward News](https://upward.news/p/daily-brief-why-aoc-condemned-woke) — ☕ Daily Brief: Why AOC Condemned “Woke” - [Real Clear Politics](https://realclearpolitics.com/2026/08/10/difficult_for_democrats_to_escape_crazy_woke_ideas_707558.html) — Difficult for Democrats To Escape 'Crazy' Woke Ideas - [ussanews.com](https://ussanews.com/2026/08/10/woke-2-wants-a-mulligan-for-woke-1) — “Woke 2” Wants a Mulligan for “Woke 1” - [Washington Examiner](https://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4681282/socialists-want-do-over-insane-2020-positions-ocasio-cortez-francesca-hong) — Socialists want a do-over for the insane 2020 positions they supported - [The American Bazaar](https://americanbazaaronline.com/2026/08/09/aoc-francesca-hong-wisconsin-governor-race-486056) — AOC declines to endorse Francesca Hong in Wisconsin - [AsAm News](https://asamnews.com/2026/08/09/francesca-hong-opinion-piece-emil-guillermo) — Op-Ed: Francesca Hong and the Democrats’ Fear of Their Own Future - [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/news/aoc-urges-voters-to-weigh-francesca-hongs-current-message-over-past-woke-1-remarks) — AOC Urges Voters to Weigh Francesca Hong’s Current Message Over Past Woke 1 Remarks - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/08/09/us-news/aoc-pushes-voters-to-assess-what-francesca-hong-is-saying-now-gloss-over-her-past-woke-1-was-crazy) — AOC pushes voters to assess what Francesca Hong is saying now, gloss over her past: ‘Woke 1 was crazy’ - [The Free Press (Tampa)](https://tampafp.com/aoc-defends-shift-in-progressive-rhetoric-declines-endorsement-in-wisconsin-race) — AOC Defends Shift In Progressive Rhetoric, Declines Endorsement In Wisconsin Race - Tampa Free Press - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6019083-ocasio-cortez-declines-hong-endorsement) — AOC declines to endorse Hong, says she’s focused on ‘winning back’ Congress - [Newsmax](https://newsmax.com/politics/aoc-francesca-hong-wisconsin/2026/08/09/id/1265549) — AOC Declines to Endorse Hong in Wisconsin Governor's Race - [Wisconsin State Journal](https://madison.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections/article_0c3c2f3b-4e3f-5303-942a-4806ef456b82.html) — Bernie Sanders doesn't plan to endorse Francesca Hong in Wisconsin governor race - [Bizpac Review](https://bizpacreview.com/2026/08/07/we-finally-meet-a-socialist-candidate-bernie-sanders-wont-endorse-1653772) — We finally meet a socialist candidate Bernie Sanders won’t endorse - [Chippewa Herald](https://chippewa.com/news/state-regional/wisconsin/article_b5afe983-1918-546a-ad67-c91bdb5116e1.html) — Bernie Sanders doesn't plan to endorse Francesca Hong in governor race - [USA Today](https://usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/08/06/bernie-sanders-francesca-hong/91200369007) — Bernie Sanders doesn't plan to endorse Francesca Hong in governor race - [연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency](https://yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260807003300071) — U.S. Progressive Leader Sanders Says Korean-American Governor Candidate "Will Not Be Revealed" - [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/6/bernie-sanders-wont-endorse-francesca-hong-wisconsin-governor-race) — Bernie Sanders won’t endorse Hong in Wisconsin governor race - [RedState](https://redstate.com/terichristoph/2026/08/06/theres-actually-one-socialist-whos-too-insane-for-bernie-n2205273) — Too Bonkers for Bernie: Even Sanders Won't Touch This Socialist Train Wreck - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/politics/sanders-answer-asked-endorse-socialist-hong-wisconsin-sparks-instant-mockery-says-lot) — Sanders' answer when asked if he will endorse socialist Hong in Wisconsin sparks instant mockery: 'Says a lot' - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6013151-bernie-sanders-francesca-hong-wisconsin-support) — Sanders doesn’t believe he will endorse Hong: ‘I don’t think so’ - [ussanews.com](https://ussanews.com/2026/08/06/after-endorsing-platner-comrade-bernie-sanders-refuses-to-endorse-francesca-hong) — After endorsing Platner, Comrade Bernie Sanders refuses to endorse Francesca Hong - [wokespy.com](https://wokespy.com/bernie-sanders-spins-a-whopper-as-socialist-agenda-gets-too-toxic-to-defend-watch) — Bernie Sanders Spins a Whopper as Socialist Agenda Gets Too Toxic to Defend - [Spiked](https://spiked-online.com/2026/08/06/francesca-hong-the-final-boss-of-woke) — Francesca Hong: the final boss of woke? - [Twitchy](https://twitchy.com/dougp/2026/08/06/yikes-is-francesca-wong-too-crazy-for-bernie-n2430997) — YIKES! It Appears That Francesca Hong Is Even 'Too Crazy for Bernie' - [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/05/bernie-sanders-declines-endorse-francesca-hong-wisconsin-governors-race) — Bernie Sanders Declines to Endorse Francesca Hong in Wisconsin Governor's Race ## Questions **Why did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez decline to endorse Francesca Hong?** Ocasio-Cortez said voters should focus on candidates’ current positions rather than past statements. She did not endorse Hong in Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, though she acknowledged some past rhetoric during the pandemic went too far. This was reported by The American Bazaar. **What past remarks has Francesca Hong made that drew criticism?** Hong previously supported calls to abolish the police and made remarks about Thanksgiving that drew backlash. She later walked back her position on Thanksgiving. These details were included in The American Bazaar’s report. **Did Bernie Sanders endorse Francesca Hong?** No. Sen. Bernie Sanders said, “I don’t think so,” when asked if he would endorse Hong, as reported by The Daily Wire. Right-rated digests highlighted the lack of endorsements from both Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez. **What is the significance of Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary?** The primary is seen as a test of whether a Bernie Sanders-style progressive platform can succeed in a competitive Midwestern state. Wisconsin is politically divided, and the race has attracted national attention due to Hong’s democratic socialist politics. This was noted in The American Bazaar’s report. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/ocasio-cortez-declines-to-endorse-hong-in-wisconsin-governor-race. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Ocasio-Cortez declines to endorse Hong in Wisconsin governor race", https://mediabias.news/politics/ocasio-cortez-declines-to-endorse-hong-in-wisconsin-governor-race