David Axelrod, one of the architects behind President Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, believes other progressives might stand a better chance of getting elected if, in his view, one of their more unserious candidates loses an upcoming primary."It would be good for Abdul El-Sayed if Francesca Hong loses her bid to become the Democratic nominee in Wisconsin next week," Axelrod wrote in a post to X."He is a serious person.She is a font of zany liberal, faculty lounge exotica.
But the [Republicans] … would surely try to link Abdul and Hong as philosophical kin."JOHNSON TURNS DEMOCRATS’ SOCIALIST CIVIL WAR INTO NEW WEAPON FOR MIDTERMSGovernor candidate Francesca Hong speaks on stage during the Wisconsin Democrats 2026 Convention on June 14, 2026, in Madison, Wis.(Getty Images for WisDems)Axelrod’s comments seem to indicate that despite their recent success in the 2026 midterms, not all progressives are viewed equally across the party — that some of them are seen as political liabilities even among themselves."This tweet is a perfect example of why the consultant class keeps losing elections.
They're totally clueless, and they're hellbent on keeping working-class people out of politics," Hong wrote about Axelrod's X post."I've spent more time in kitchens than faculty lounges.
Perhaps you'd like to come to Wisconsin and work a Friday night dinner rush with me?"Hong, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly who is running to become the next governor of Wisconsin, has advocated for a wide slew of policies that put her solidly in the progressive camp.She has called for universal childcare, supports a $20 minimum wage, advocated for the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), believes even noncitizens should have access to state-issued ID, has called for publicly run grocery stores and opposes continued U.S.support for Israel.Hong is also a self-proclaimed socialist with the backing of the Democratic Socialist of America (DSA).WISCONSIN D...