Former child actress and OnlyFans model Renee Olstead is serving in a senior role on Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong's gubernatorial campaign, according to The Heartland Post. Olstead, who also goes by Renee Faust, is listed as the campaign's deputy campaign manager. Hong is among the candidates competing in next week's Democratic gubernatorial primary against Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, former Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan and Democratic state Sen. Kelda Roys.
The campaign confirmed that Olstead joined in December and described her as a licensed mental health clinician who has spent her career providing care to trafficking survivors. The Heartland Post reported she has worked as a paid campaign operative since at least January, coordinated logistics for high-profile surrogates including political commentator Hasan Piker, and her X bio reads "HONG 4 GOV" with a link to the campaign's get-out-the-vote page.
What the Right Is Saying
Wisconsin Family Action, a conservative advocacy organization based in Madison, criticized Olstead's involvement in Hong's campaign. "Wisconsinites deserve to have serious people leading the state," Daniel Degner, president of Wisconsin Family Action, said in a statement. "It is unbelievable to see that the likely Democratic nominee for governor has an active sex worker leading her campaign."
Degner added: "Voters deserve to know whether if Hong is elected, she will elevate a porn star to leadership in her administration." Olstead previously founded the Coalition for American Sex Workers (CASW – LOCAL 304), which advocates for decriminalization and other policy changes affecting sex workers.
What the Left Is Saying
Hong's campaign defended Olstead's involvement in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "Renee Faust is a licensed mental health clinician who has spent her career providing care to trafficking survivors," the campaign said. "Since joining the campaign in December, she has helped build the largest grassroots campaign in Wisconsin history. The right-wing politicians attacking her are the same ones who want government dictating women's health care decisions."
Hong previously presented Olstead with an official Wisconsin State Assembly citation recognizing her advocacy for sex workers' rights and her selection as "Penthouse Pet of the Year" in 2024. Hong has also pursued legislation that would decriminalize prostitution involving adults and establish a sex workers' bill of rights. The campaign did not directly respond to questions about whether she stood by presenting Olstead with the citation or what specific qualifications informed that decision.
What the Numbers Show
The Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary is scheduled for next week. Hong serves as a state representative representing Wisconsin's 76th Assembly District, where she was first elected in 2020. She has previously expressed support on social media for progressive proposals including abolishing the U.S. Senate and defunding police, though she has recently distanced herself from some of those positions ahead of Tuesday's primary.
Olstead is one of four candidates competing in next week's primary contest. The winner will face the Republican nominee in the general election.
The Bottom Line
The appointment of Olstead as deputy campaign manager has brought renewed attention to Hong's policy positions on sex work decriminalization and her broader progressive platform ahead of a competitive primary. Hong recently faced scrutiny over a since-deleted 2020 X post calling to "cancel Thanksgiving" that she has since distanced herself from, telling Politico Playbook that Thanksgiving is her "favorite holiday." The campaign's statement emphasized Olstead's background in mental health and work with trafficking survivors as qualifications for her role. What happens next: Voters will decide the primary outcome next week, and whether this story affects Hong's standing with Democratic primary voters remains to be seen.