State Rep. Francesca Hong, a Democratic socialist and frontrunner in Wisconsin's gubernatorial primary, was one of six lawmakers to vote against legislation that bars adults from engaging in conduct intended to seduce or groom children for sexual activity.
The bill, which passed the State Assembly 93-6 and cleared the Senate by voice vote before Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed it into law in March, was drafted in response to the case of Christian Enwright, a Kenosha teacher who pled guilty to 15 misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct related to his interactions with students.
According to investigators, Enwright engaged in what they described as classic grooming behavior toward at least one female student. The legislation created new criminal penalties for adults who engage in patterns of behavior intended to condition, seduce, solicit, lure, or entice a child into sexual activity or pornography.
Hong has not publicly explained her vote against the measure. Those who joined her in opposing the legislation argued it was redundant to existing state law and could lead to unintended prosecutions.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican critics and conservative media outlets have highlighted Hong's vote as evidence that she is outside the mainstream of Wisconsin politics. The Wisconsin GOP has pointed to her opposition to the anti-grooming bill in fundraising communications, arguing Democratic candidates cannot be trusted on children's safety issues.
State Republican legislators who supported the bill noted the overwhelming bipartisan passage and argued there was no legitimate reason to oppose a measure designed to protect children from predatory adults. They point out that even those who raised technical objections still voted for the final legislation after amendments were added.
Conservative commentators have also focused on Hong's hiring of an OnlyFans model to manage her campaign and past social media posts calling for abolishing the Senate, arguing these positions make her unelectable in a general election despite her current polling advantage.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive groups and Democratic allies of Hong have emphasized that she has sought to moderate her positions during the campaign, particularly on policing issues where she once called for defunding police departments. Supporters argue she represents a new generation of Wisconsin Democrats focused on economic justice and housing rights.
Some progressive defenders note that six lawmakers voted against the bill, suggesting the opposition was not solely ideological. They point to concerns raised by criminal defense attorneys and civil liberties groups about overbreadth in the legislation's language regarding "course of conduct" and whether it could inadvertently criminalize legitimate behavior by teachers, coaches, or family members.
Democratic Party officials in Wisconsin have largely remained silent on Hong's vote, with the state party focused on maintaining opposition to Republican legislative priorities. Primary voters will decide Hong's fate this week.
What the Numbers Show
The anti-grooming bill passed the Wisconsin State Assembly by a 93-6 vote, indicating broad bipartisan support. Gov. Evers signed the legislation into law in March. Hong was one of six assembly members to vote against it.
Hong held approximately a 20-point polling lead over her nearest Democratic primary challenger heading into Tuesday's election, according to surveys conducted by Wisconsin media organizations. She has raised significant campaign funds from progressive donors.
The Christian Enwright case that inspired the legislation involved interactions with students including a 14-year-old girl. Enwright received probation and was required to register as a sex offender under existing law, which supporters of the new bill argued did not adequately address the grooming behavior itself.
The Bottom Line
Hong's vote against the anti-grooming legislation has emerged as a central issue in Wisconsin's gubernatorial Democratic primary. She faces questions from voters and opponents about her reasoning for opposing child protection measures that received overwhelming legislative support.
If Hong wins Tuesday's primary, Republicans are expected to make her opposition to the bill a centerpiece of their general election messaging. The outcome will test whether progressive positions on criminal justice and concerns about overcriminalization resonate more than law-and-order messaging with Wisconsin Democratic voters.
The race represents one of several state-level contests where Democratic socialist candidates are competing in 2026 primaries, with national implications for party platform debates.