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Wisconsin state rep. and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong appeared to distance herself from far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker on Wednesday after appearing on his livestream less than two weeks ago.
While being interviewed on “MS NOW Reports,” Hong was asked about her late June appearance on Piker’s livestream, which also served as a fundraiser for her campaign. Hong faced criticism for campaigning with Piker from former Democratic Wisconsin Elections Commissioner Ann Jacobs, who claimed she was “willing to sell out the Jews of Wisconsin for a few bucks.”
“I condemn hatred, discrimination, antisemitism and Islamophobia, any sort of dehumanizing of communities,” Hong responded. “Being on these streams, it’s important that we get our message out in places where, you know, campaigns struggle to reach voters. Just because I am on a platform certainly does not mean that I endorse everything that has been said by either the hosts or other people who have gone on.”
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She added, “And if candidates and elected officials who are speaking with more controversial hosts, you know, if we are to be responsible for everything that they have ever said, I would point to the fact that [Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis.,] the Republican likely nominee, has been on a radio show that has called for the execution of the governor of Minnesota.”
“So, I think it’s important to recognize that when we are campaigning in areas where folks may not have already heard our message, it’s important to let them know that we are a campaign that is fighting for working-class people, and it’s important that folks are staying engaged on our elections here in Wisconsin,” Hong said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Hong and Piker for comment.
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Piker has received widespread backlash over the years for several controversial statements such as claiming that America “deserved” 9/11 and that Hamas is “a thousand times better” than Israel.
Despite his comments, Piker has been a growing figure within the Democratic Party, campaigning with progressive candidates like Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
Hong, who described herself as a democratic socialist, has also made controversial statements in the past, calling for efforts to defund and abolish the police.
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“I support defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police,” Hong wrote online in 2020, according to CNN.
Hong appeared to backtrack from these comments in a statement to Fox News Digital in May.
“There is no way I want to cut resources for public safety,” Hong said. “I don’t like crime. I don’t like unsafe streets. I also don’t like when a member of law enforcement abuses their power.”
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