Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) confirmed on Sunday that she will not be endorsing Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist candidate currently seeking the Democratic nomination for the Wisconsin gubernatorial race. When asked about the potential endorsement, Ocasio-Cortez explained that her political priorities are currently centered on national-level objectives rather than state-level primary contests.

Ocasio-Cortez stated, “I haven’t endorsed in that race. My focus has been in winning back the Congress, winning back the House, and positioning ourselves to have the best chance possible to win the Senate.” This statement suggests a strategic prioritization of maintaining or regaining Democratic control of the federal legislature over involvement in specific state-level primaries. The congresswoman did not provide further details regarding her stance on the Wisconsin race or the candidates involved beyond this focus on federal outcomes.

Francesca Hong, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, is running as a progressive candidate within the Democratic field. Ocasio-Cortez’s decision to withhold support highlights the ongoing debate within the Democratic Party regarding how resources and political capital should be allocated between local, state, and federal elections. While Ocasio-Cortez is a prominent figure within the progressive wing of the party, her comments indicate that her current political bandwidth is almost entirely dedicated to the upcoming federal election cycle. There have been no further comments from the Hong campaign regarding the lack of endorsement.