Democratic Establishment Attempts to Suppress Progressive Voices in Wisconsin and Michigan
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Party elites and corporate media are undermining progressive candidates Francesca Hong and Abdul El-Sayed, labeling them 'unelectable,' while Republicans acknowledge Hong's genuine grassroots strength.
Two bold progressive candidates are shaking up the status quo ahead of the 2024 midterm elections. Chef Francesca Hong, a champion for working people, leads the Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin, while Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a tireless advocate for Medicare for All, holds a commanding double-digit poll lead in Michigan's Senate primary. Yet, Democratic strategists, entrenched in establishment politics, dismiss these candidates as 'too extreme' for general-election voters, clinging to outdated notions of electability.
Former Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod resorted to fearmongering, describing the Wisconsin governor race as 'a slow-rolling car headed for a cliff.' Meanwhile, longtime party operative James Carville stoked panic about the two-party system being under 'tremendous stress' due to candidates associated with unapologetic left-wing commentator Hasan Piker. Notably, Hong refused to play into the establishment's smear tactics by declining to condemn Piker when asked.
Establishment figures like Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have predictably thrown their weight behind more moderate, corporate-friendly primary contenders. Internal party polling, shaped by centrist bias, shows low overall popularity, which party elites use to justify their resistance to real change.
Ironically, a Republican memo prepared for Tom Tiffany’s gubernatorial campaign, and obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, recognizes Hong as 'uniquely dangerous in the general election'—not because she is weak, but because her grassroots momentum, progressive platform, and appeal to independents, working families, and even rural voters threaten the status quo. The memo warns that nominating a moderate would sap voter motivation and turnout, exposing the establishment’s fear of genuine popular movements.
Centrist think-tank Third Way, echoing the establishment line, advised Democrats to avoid candidates 'far outside the mainstream of their district.' In response, Hong rightly pointed out that party officials are underestimating voters and their appetite for transformative change.
The article underscores that the outcomes of the upcoming elections remain uncertain, but what is clear is the growing tension between entrenched party leadership and the energized progressive grassroots demanding a party that finally represents the people.