Aug 13, 2026 · 29 min

Wisconsin primary tests Democrats’ retreat from “wokeness”

“Woke 1 was crazy”

The episode examines whether Democrats can soften controversial rhetoric and positions without alienating voters who still support social-justice priorities.

3 key takeaways

1Francesca Hong’s Wisconsin defeat shows how past statements and cultural politics can become liabilities in a statewide Democratic primary.
2“Wokeness” may have lost influence as a political label without erasing Democratic support for social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
3Democrats may moderate positions such as defunding the police while preserving broader commitments that remain popular with their base.

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The discussion distinguishes the fading political usefulness of “wokeness” from continued Democratic support for social-justice priorities.

The brief

Francesca Hong’s loss to centrist Democrat David Crowley in Wisconsin opens a larger question: are progressive candidates being punished for their records, rhetoric, or both?

David Weigel traces Crowley’s momentum to a crowded primary, support from Governor Tony Evers, and doubts about whether Hong’s left-wing platform could win statewide.

The episode defines “woke one” as the Trump-and-pandemic era of identity, privilege, and structural-racism language, then asks whether Democrats are distancing themselves from its excesses.

Hong’s past statements, including a Thanksgiving post, became liabilities after opponents and Republican spending recast them as evidence of unacceptable politics.

The argument’s tension is that activist language may be fading while Democratic voters still support social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The midterm strategy that emerges is moderation without abandonment: Democrats can retreat from positions like defunding the police while keeping broader social-justice commitments.

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