As part of our gubernatorial candidate podcast series, Democratic candidate Francesca Hong discussed her vision for Wisconsin’s economy, workforce, education, healthcare, and state government. Throughout the interview, Hong argued that investments in public services and worker support strengthen both families and businesses, emphasizing affordability, public investment, and long-term economic growth.

Below are some of the major policy themes discussed during the conversation.

Investing in Workforce Supports

Hong argued that improving quality of life is also an economic development strategy.

She identified several workforce supports that she believes would strengthen Wisconsin businesses, including:

• Free childcare.
• Strong public schools.
• Reliable transportation infrastructure.
• Paid family leave.
• Affordable healthcare.

She said these investments would help businesses recruit and retain employees while making Wisconsin more competitive.

Housing Affordability

Housing affordability was a recurring priority throughout the interview.

Hong supported:

• Expanding affordable housing.
• Making it easier to build new housing.
• Strengthening tenant protections.
• Increasing the supply of workforce housing.

She argued that housing affordability is closely tied to workforce availability and economic opportunity.

Education

Hong emphasized expanding investment in public education at every level.

Her priorities included:

• Fully funding K-12 public schools.
• Increasing support for Wisconsin’s public universities.
• Expanding healthy school meal programs.

She argued that stronger investments in education would improve workforce development while helping Wisconsin retain talented graduates.

Healthcare

Healthcare affordability was another major focus.

Hong proposed:

• Creating a public health insurance option.
• Expanding Medicaid (BadgerCare).
• Reducing prescription drug costs.
• Addressing rising hospital prices.

She argued that lowering healthcare costs would improve affordability for families while making it easier for small businesses to compete for employees.

Supporting Small Businesses

Hong repeatedly emphasized strengthening Wisconsin’s small business community.

Her proposals included:

• Expanding access to low-interest loans.
• Increasing grants for small businesses.
• Improving access to government financing programs.
• Exploring the creation of a public bank by expanding the role of WEDC.
• Strengthening local supply chains and connections between Wisconsin businesses and producers.

She argued that supporting Wisconsin’s existing small businesses should be a central component of the state’s economic development strategy.

Taxes and State Revenue

Hong proposed funding expanded public investments through changes to Wisconsin’s tax structure.

Her proposals included:

• Creating a new tax bracket for millionaires.
• Legalizing cannabis to generate additional state revenue.
• Eliminating tax exemptions for new data centers.
• Increasing taxes on the state’s largest corporations and highest-income earners.

She argued these changes would provide sustainable funding for affordability initiatives and public investments.

Shared Revenue and Local Government

Hong identified shared revenue reform as one of her highest budget priorities. She said increasing state funding for municipalities would give local governments greater financial stability and improve their ability to provide essential public services.

Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness

Hong connected Wisconsin’s long-term competitiveness to investments in people.

She advocated for:

• Greater investment in public universities.
• Workforce development and retraining.
• Manufacturing.
• Renewable energy.
• Public infrastructure.

She argued that improving quality of life would help Wisconsin attract workers, businesses, and future investment.

Data Centers

Hong devoted a significant portion of the interview to discussing hyperscale AI data centers.

She proposed:

• A one-year moratorium on new hyperscale AI data centers while statewide regulations are developed.
• Requiring developers to pay the full cost of electrical grid and infrastructure upgrades.
• Eliminating tax subsidies for new data centers.
• Investing in renewable energy to support future development.
• Giving local governments greater authority over project approvals.
• Requiring greater transparency and limiting the use of non-disclosure agreements.
• Protecting ratepayers from increased utility costs.
• Requiring developers to cover their own water and energy consumption.

Hong argued that stronger environmental, taxpayer, labor, and transparency protections should be established before approving additional large-scale projects.

Artificial Intelligence and Workforce Protections

Hong also discussed the growing impact of artificial intelligence on Wisconsin’s workforce.

She supported policies that would:

• Expand worker retraining and upskilling opportunities.
• Require employers to invest in employee training as AI is adopted.
• Protect collective bargaining rights.
• Restrict the use of AI in employment decisions such as firing workers without human oversight.

She argued that workers should share in the benefits of technological advancements rather than bear the costs.

Governing Philosophy

Throughout the interview, Hong emphasized transparency, bipartisan relationship-building, and practical governance. She said she has worked with Republicans to pass bipartisan legislation and argued that successful policymaking should prioritize results over political credit. She also described public investment as central to improving affordability, strengthening communities, and supporting long-term economic growth.

Key Takeaways

Throughout the conversation, Hong consistently emphasized:

• Expanding free childcare, paid family leave, and other workforce supports.
• Fully funding K-12 public schools and increasing investment in public universities.
• Expanding affordable housing, tenant protections, and making it easier to build new homes.
• Reforming healthcare through a public option, Medicaid expansion, lower prescription drug costs, and hospital cost reforms.
• Supporting small businesses with grants, low-interest loans, expanded financing opportunities, and the creation of a public bank.
• Reforming shared revenue to strengthen local governments.
• Funding public investments through progressive taxation, including a millionaire tax bracket and ending certain corporate tax exemptions.
• Investing in renewable energy, manufacturing, workforce development, and public infrastructure.
• Implementing a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale AI data centers until stronger environmental, labor, transparency, and taxpayer protections are established.
• Expanding AI workforce protections through retraining, employer responsibility, and limits on AI-driven employment decisions.
• Governing through transparency, bipartisan collaboration, and long-term public investment aimed at improving affordability, economic opportunity, and quality of life.