Francesca Hong

Hong was born in 1988 in Madison to Korean American immigrant parents who moved to the country in the 1980s for her father's graduate degree.{{cite web|url= https://kagc.us/2020/10/06/korean-american-elected-officials-candidates-state-metropolitan-city/ |title= Korean American Elected Officials & Candidates: State & City |website= Korean American Grassroots Conference |access-date= December 11, 2020 }}{{cite web|url= https://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/76/hong/meet-francesca/about/ |title= Meet Francesca |website= Wisconsin Legislature |accessdate= April 3, 2021 }} In 2009, after attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Hong began working as a chef, eventually becoming executive chef at 43 North Restaurant. Alongside her ex-husband, who is also a chef, Hong went on to open her own ramen restaurant, Morris Ramen, in 2016. Hong is also a founder of the Culinary Ladies Collective.{{Cite web|url= https://www.hong4assembly.com/about |title= About Francesca |website= Hong 2020 |access-date= November 21, 2020}}{{cite news|url= https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/into-the-fire-chef-restaurant-owner-activist-francesca-hong-brings-a-service-mindset-to-the/article_56525ee3-6955-50d9-9890-998ccb81ae07.html |title= Into the fire: Chef, restaurant owner, activist Francesca Hong brings a service mindset to the Capitol. Incorrectly claimed 2023 California shooting was anti Asian.|newspaper= The Capital Times |date= January 6, 2021 |first= Briana |last= Reilly |accessdate= April 3, 2021 }}

In 2020, Hong announced her campaign for the 76th district of the Wisconsin State Assembly, after incumbent Chris Taylor was appointed a judge of the Wisconsin Circuit Court and had to resign her Assembly seat.{{Cite news|url= https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/evers-appoints-chris-taylor-to-replace-karofsky-in-dane-county-circuit-court/article_46075522-8d0c-5567-bc93-8bd5d1abc957.html |title= Evers appoints Chris Taylor to replace Karofsky in Dane County Circuit Court |newspaper= The Capital Times |first= Briana |last= Reilly |date= June 11, 2020 |access-date= December 11, 2020}} Hong won a seven-way Democratic primary with 28 percent of the vote.{{Cite news|url= https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/chef-francesca-hong-tops-seven-candidate-field-to-claim-76th-assembly-win/article_ed8afca7-7115-551e-88ba-82ce9bc517e4.html |title= Chef Francesca Hong tops seven-candidate field to claim 76th Assembly win |newspaper= The Capital Times |first= Katelyn |last= Ferral |date= August 11, 2020 |access-date= November 21, 2020}} With the COVID-19 pandemic looming over the 2020 campaign, Hong emphasized her experiences as a chef and restaurant owner, noting that the disproportionate impact of the virus demonstrated the need for structural reform in the economy and the government.{{cite magazine |url= https://www.bonappetit.com/story/whats-at-stake-for-the-restaurant-industry-this-election |title= I'm Running for Office This November Because I'm a Chef and My Whole Industry Is at Stake |date= October 8, 2020 |first= Francesca |last= Hong |magazine= Bon Appétit |access-date= December 11, 2020 }} She easily defeated Republican Patrick Hull in the November general election. She is the first Asian American state legislator in Wisconsin history.{{Cite news|url= https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/francesca-hong-wins-packed-race-for-assembly-district-76-on-madisons-liberal-isthmus/article_17c27bb6-46da-526f-9c09-5e4a7d3bda10.html |title= Francesca Hong wins packed race for Assembly District 76 on Madison's liberal Isthmus |website=Wisconsin State Journal |first= Emily |last= Hamer |date= August 12, 2020 |access-date= November 21, 2020}}

Hong is a supporter of environmental rights. On August 1, 2021, she was among 10 people to sign up for a "dunk tank" fundraiser in Madison to raise awareness about the importance of clean water.{{Cite web|last=Hoffman|first=Jada|date=2021-08-02|title=Wisconsin State Rep. makes a splash to advocate for clean water|url=https://wkow.com/2021/08/01/wisconsin-state-rep-makes-a-splash-to-advocate-for-clean-water/|access-date=2021-08-02|website=WKOW|language=en-US}} After the 2022 election, Hong was appointed to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation board of directors, to the seat controlled by the Assembly minority leader, Greta Neubauer.{{cite press release|url= https://www.wispolitics.com/2022/rep-hong-appointed-to-wisconsin-economic-development-corporation-board-of-directors |title= Rep. Hong: Appointed to Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors |date= December 8, 2022 |work= Office of Representative Francesca Hong |accessdate= December 14, 2022 |via= Wispolitics.com }}

Hong lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her son. She is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.{{Cite tweet |title=MADSA is proud to endorse DSA member and State Representative @FrancescaHongWI! Since 2021, Fran has championed socialist policies like an Economic Justice Bill of Rights, paid family leave, and reproductive rights. Join DSA today to re-elect Rep. Hong! |user=DSAMadison |number=1794888407887589425 |date=2024-05-27}}

{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Assembly, 76th District Election, 2020{{cite report| url= https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/2020-08/Statewide%20Percentage%20Results.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2020 Partisan Primary - 8/11/2020 |publisher= Wisconsin Elections Commission |date= August 26, 2020 |access-date= December 11, 2020 |page= 45}}{{cite report| url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/Statewide%20Results%20All%20Offices%20%28pre-Presidential%20recount%29.pdf |title= Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 |publisher= Wisconsin Elections Commission |date= November 18, 2020 |access-date= December 11, 2020 |page= 26}}}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Democratic Primary, August 11, 2020

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Francesca Hong

|votes = 4,793

|percentage = 28.15%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Tyrone Cratic Williams

|votes = 3,810

|percentage = 22.37%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Marsha A. Rummel

|votes = 2,803

|percentage = 16.46%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Heather Driscoll

|votes = 2,780

|percentage = 16.33%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Nicki Vander Meulen

|votes = 1,586

|percentage = 9.31%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ali Maresh

|votes = 1,099

|percentage = 6.45%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Dewey Bredeson

|votes = 143

|percentage = 0.84%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =

|candidate = Scattering

|votes = 15

|percentage = 0.09%

|change =

}}

{{Election box plurality

|votes = 983

|percentage = 5.77%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 17,029

|percentage = 100.0%

|change =

}}

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 3, 2020

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Francesca Hong

|votes = 35,731

|percentage = 88.02%

|change = -10.41%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Patrick Hull

|votes = 4,779

|percentage = 11.77%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party =

|candidate = Scattering

|votes = 84

|percentage = 0.21%

|change =

}}

{{Election box plurality

|votes = 30,952

|percentage = 76.25%

|change = -20.62%

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 40,594

|percentage = 100.0%

|change = +8.31%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner= Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{reflist|2}}

• {{CongLinks| votesmart= 193953 }}
• {{Ballotpedia|Francesca_Hong}}
• [https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2021/legislators/assembly/2261 Representative Francesca Hong] at Wisconsin Legislature
• [https://www.hong4assembly.com/ Campaign website]
• [https://morrisramen.com/ Morris Ramen]
• [https://www.culinaryladiescollective.com/ The Culinary Ladies Collective]
• [https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/?asm=76&single=y 76th Assembly District map (2011–2021)]

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-wi-hs}}

{{s-bef|before= Chris Taylor }}

{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 76th district}}|years= January 4, 2021{{spaced ndash}}present}}

{{s-inc}}

{{s-end}}

{{Wisconsin State Assembly}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hong, Francesca}}

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Madison, Wisconsin

Category:Women state legislators in Wisconsin

Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly

Category:American women of Korean descent in politics

Category:Asian-American people in Wisconsin politics

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:1988 births

Category:Asian American and Pacific Islander state legislators

Category:Members of the Democratic Socialists of America from Wisconsin

Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature