Hong Rallies Students for Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election

Wisconsin Assembly member Francesca Hong encourages student turnout ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial contest.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a capitol dome silhouette, representing the gravity of the upcoming gubernatorial election in Wisconsin. — Assembly member Francesca Hong campaigned at Wisconsin's Library Mall, emphasizing the critical role of student turnout in the November gubernatorial election. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe the upcoming gubernatorial election will improve reproductive healthcare access in your community?

Assembly member Francesca Hong met with students at Library Mall to promote voting in the November 3 gubernatorial election. The event, hosted by The Wisco Project, highlighted reproductive health access as a key issue for voters.

Why it matters

The election presents a choice between two distinct paths for reproductive rights in the state. Candidates David Crowley and Tom Tiffany hold opposing stances that will determine future access to abortion services for Wisconsin residents.

Democratic candidate David Crowley aims to codify abortion rights in the state constitution, while Republican Tom Tiffany advocates for a 20-week abortion ban. Hong lost the August primary to Crowley by a 0.5% margin.

The players

Francesca Hong

Francesca Hong is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly who previously ran in the gubernatorial primary.

David Crowley

David Crowley is the Democratic gubernatorial candidate endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin.

Tom Tiffany

Tom Tiffany is the Republican gubernatorial candidate who has historically supported a 20-week abortion ban.

The Wisco Project

The Wisco Project is an organization focused on mobilizing and encouraging student voter participation in Wisconsin.

The details

Speakers at the rally urged attendees to increase voter mobilization by infiltrating group chats to ensure peers get to the polls. The event follows recent judicial history, including the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that struck down the state's 1849 abortion ban.

1849: The original abortion ban statute was enacted.
June 24, 2022 - September 18, 2023: A total abortion ban was enforced in Wisconsin.
September 2023: Reproductive clinics resumed abortion services after a Dane County judge ruling.
2025: The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the 1849 abortion law.
October 22, 2026: Francesca Hong addressed a student rally at Library Mall.

Political Context

The gubernatorial debate follows the 2025 judicial invalidation of the 1849 abortion ban. Opponents of the current Democratic platform argue that such constitutional protections overstep legislative authority and prefer the 20-week restriction supported by Tom Tiffany.

The outcome of this election will directly dictate whether Wisconsin residents maintain access to legal abortion or face new legislative restrictions. Voters should prepare for the November 3 election by verifying their registration status and polling location.

The takeaway

Voters are encouraged to engage with their peers to ensure high turnout in the upcoming November election. Tracking candidate positions on reproductive health remains the most reliable way to understand the potential impact on state law.