Francesca Hong

Francesca Hong (born 1988/1989) is an American chef, community organizer, and politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. A Democrat, she is the representative of the 76th district of the Wisconsin State Assembly, based in the Madison Isthmus. Elected in November 2020, she is the first Asian American member of the Wisconsin Legislature.[1]

Francesca Hong
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 76th district
Assumed office
January 4, 2021
Preceded byChris Taylor
Personal details
Born1988/1989 (age 31–32)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Matt Morris
Children1
ResidenceMadison, Wisconsin, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
ProfessionChef, politician
WebsiteCampaign website

Early life and career

Hong was born in Madison to Korean American immigrant parents who moved to the country in the 1980s for her father's graduate degree.[2] 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 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.[3]

Political career

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.[4] Hong won a seven-way Democratic primary with 28 percent of the vote.[5] 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.[6] She easily defeated Republican Patrick Hull in the November general election. She is the first Asian American state legislator in Wisconsin history.[7]

Personal life

Hong lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband, Matt, and their son.[3]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (2020)
Wisconsin Assembly, 76th District Election, 2020[8][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Primary, August 11, 2020
Democratic Francesca Hong 4,793 28.15%
Democratic Tyrone Cratic Williams 3,810 22.37%
Democratic Marsha A. Rummel 2,803 16.46%
Democratic Heather Driscoll 2,780 16.33%
Democratic Nicki Vander Meulen 1,586 9.31%
Democratic Ali Maresh 1,099 6.45%
Democratic Dewey Bredeson 143 0.84%
Scattering 15 0.09%
Plurality 983 5.77%
Total votes 17,029 100.0%
General Election, November 3, 2020
Democratic Francesca Hong 35,731 88.02% -10.41%
Republican Patrick Hull 4,779 11.77%
Scattering 84 0.21%
Plurality 30,952 76.25% -20.62%
Total votes 40,594 100.0% +8.31%
Democratic hold

References
  1. Meyerhofer, Kelly (November 5, 2020). "Madison voters elect 1st Asian-American and 1st Muslim to state Legislature". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  2. "Korean American Elected Officials & Candidates: State & City". Korean American Grassroots Conference. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  3. "About Francesca". Hong 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  4. Reilly, Briana (June 11, 2020). "Evers appoints Chris Taylor to replace Karofsky in Dane County Circuit Court". The Capital Times. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  5. Ferral, Katelyn (August 11, 2020). "Chef Francesca Hong tops seven-candidate field to claim 76th Assembly win". The Capital Times. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  6. Hong, Francesca (October 8, 2020). "I'm Running for Office This November Because I'm a Chef and My Whole Industry Is at Stake". Bon Appétit. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  7. Hamer, Emily (August 12, 2020). "Francesca Hong wins packed race for Assembly District 76 on Madison's liberal Isthmus". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  8. Canvass Results for 2020 Partisan Primary - 8/11/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 26, 2020. p. 45. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  9. Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. p. 26. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by
Chris Taylor		 Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 76th district
January 4, 2021 – present		 Incumbent
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