How Francesca Hong Lost a Race She Was Supposed to Win

How Francesca Hong Lost a Race She Was Supposed to Win

Author: Matt Diemer & Laura Rodriguez-Carbone August 17, 2026 Duration: 28:16

How did Francesca Hong lose Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor after leading David Crowley by 31 points in the final Marquette poll?


Matt Diemer and Laura Rodriguez-Carbone examine Crowley’s extraordinary campaign comeback, his endorsement from outgoing Gov. Tony Evers, the financial collapse of Sara Rodriguez’s campaign, millions in outside spending, and the absence of endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.


But Democratic establishment involvement is only part of the explanation. Matt and Laura debate Hong’s campaign decisions, her past comments about Thanksgiving and policing, and whether progressive candidates sometimes weaken popular economic policies with language that alienates voters they need to win.


The discussion then turns to the larger challenge facing Democrats: how to fight for universal healthcare, working people, public education, and economic reform while building a broad coalition that is comfortable with patriotism and proud to carry the American flag.


The episode closes with a warning about political polling. Hong finished almost exactly where Marquette’s final poll placed her. The poll’s major failure was David Crowley, who rose from 7% to nearly 40% after several candidates withdrew and Democratic leaders consolidated behind him.


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There’s a unique kind of insight that only comes from having stood on the ballot yourself. Diemer & DiBello brings together two people who’ve done exactly that-Matthew Diemer, who ran for Congress, and his co-host, a former candidate for Mayor of Cleveland. Their conversations move seamlessly between the high-stakes theater of national politics and the grounded, gritty realities of life in Ohio, offering a perspective that’s less from the press gallery and more from behind the curtain. Each episode feels like a candid, sometimes humorous, and always substantive debrief between two insiders who understand the weight of decisions made in city hall and the Capitol. You’ll hear them parse the news not just as commentators, but as individuals who have personally navigated the pressures of campaigns and public scrutiny. This podcast digs into how policy and culture collide, sharing personal reflections and journal-like observations on society that you won’t find in standard news coverage. It’s a blend of the immediate and the intimate, making sense of the headlines through the lens of direct experience. For anyone curious about the human side of politics and the local stories that shape our broader national conversations, this is a compelling listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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