By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-06 19:55:54 | Updated at 2026-08-06 21:46:58
2 hours ago
A black Democratic candidate running to be the next governor of Wisconsin complained that it is a 'slur' to refer to him as an 'establishment' option.
David Crowley, the Milwaukee County Executive, told a rally that he finds the characterization insulting earlier this week.
Crowley is running against socialist candidate Francesca Hong, who has faced scrutiny from opponents for several extreme far-left positions she has taken in the past.
She has portrayed Crowley as the establishment choice, citing his endorsement by the incumbent governor and his substantial fundraising advantage in recent weeks.
Polls show Crowley is trailing Hong by double digits with just a week to go before the August 11 primary despite her controversial stances.
'I'm trying to figure out who "the establishment' is,'" he told the crowd at a rally in Madison on Wednesday.
'My parents were drug addicts, suffered from mental health, I worked extremely hard to be where I am today.
'When people try to call me the establishment, I look at that as a slur, particularly as an African American candidate.
David Crowley, the Milwaukee County Executive running for Wisconsin governor, says he believes it is a 'slur' to call him 'establishment' in the latest woke controversy to engulf the race
He is facing off against socialist candidate Francesca Wong who has painted him as an establishment option following his endorsement by the incumbent governor
'I have never run for office to protect the establishment. I've always been here to protect people.'
The Daily Mail has contacted Crowley's campaign for comment.
Crowley is attempting to rapidly make up ground against Hong in the closing stretch of the race, with polls showing her surging ahead.
The race has been upended in recent weeks by resurfaced social media posts Hong made in recent years, including repeat calls to 'abolish the police' and 'cancel Thanksgiving.'
This week, Hong came under renewed scrutiny after she failed to entirely disavow her suggestion that Thanksgiving should be cancelled because of its 'colonialist' roots.
Hong, 37, gave a rambling non-answer when questioned over an X post she sent in 2020 condemning the tradition during the Covid pandemic.
The since-deleted tweet read: 'Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621.
'If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed indigenous folx and women, so be it.'
Francesca Hong, 37, a Democratic socialist who is leading polls in the Wisconsin gubernatorial race, is also facing backlash for her past suggestion that Thanksgiving should be cancelled because of its 'colonialist' roots
Folx is a woke gender-neutral term designed to include transgender and non-binary people.
When asked by CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins over whether she still wants to cancel Thanksgiving celebrations, Hong failed to give a yes or no answer.
She gave a meandering response instead, replying: 'I’m a chef, and one of the first meals that I made that was for the community when I was 16 was a Thanksgiving meal.
'I always think my hospitality background and owning a restaurant for seven to eight years, that bringing folks around the table to share conversation and build community is always a good thing.
'But Thanksgiving is also a time that’s incredibly painful for many people in our communities. So I think there I wanted to make sure people understood there are multiple views, but views can evolve.
'And the position I’m running for right now — and I think my background as a chef will actually help me become a better governor that’s able to bring more people to the table.'
She has since clarified that she would not wish to 'cancel Thanksgiving', and claimed that the tradition is her 'favorite holiday.'
Hong's since-deleted post about Thanksgiving is among a number of extreme policy positions the socialist has come under scrutiny for amid her bid for the governor's office - including repeat calls to abolish the police
In past social media posts, many of which have been deleted amid her bid for the governor's office, Hong repeatedly called to 'defund the police' and has gone as far as saying she wants to 'abolish' the police.
Hong has also said in a social media post: 'Police exist to uphold white supremacy. Defund then abolish. Reform can't be a option.'
As recently as January 2026, Hong completed a candidate questionnaire re-affirming her 'commitment to police and prison abolition', as well as the 'liberation of the Palestinian people.'
But with her gubernatorial campaign gaining traction, Hong has attempted to walk back some of these positions.
Last month she said on X: 'Once again: I am not running to defund the police. And to be clear, the governor cannot defund the police. My administration will prioritize public safety & justice for victims.'
When asked by Collins this week if she was still intent on abolishing police or prisons, Hong said she was 'not interested in abolishing prisons' or police if she is elected.
Despite her extreme policy views, Hong has emerged as a front runner in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor.
A recent Marquette University Law School poll of Wisconsin voters found Hong came in first with 38 percent support, far ahead of former Lt Governor Mandela Barnes at 16 percent.
Crowley came in a distant third at seven percent.
