Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) signaled on Wednesday that he is unlikely to provide an endorsement for Francesca Hong, who is running for governor in Wisconsin. During an appearance on the podcast “Pod Save America,” host Jon Favreau asked Sanders about the possibility of him backing Hong’s campaign. Sanders responded by saying, “I don’t think so.”

The exchange occurred less than a week before the Wisconsin primary, a period when candidate endorsements are often highly sought after to mobilize voters. Sanders noted during the interview that he had met Hong “a couple of years” ago, but he did not elaborate on why he is choosing not to support her candidacy at this time.

While Sanders is a prominent figure in progressive politics and his endorsements are frequently coveted by candidates aligned with his platform, he has not publicly detailed his specific reasoning for withholding support in this race. The Hill reported the interaction as a straightforward statement of intent, focusing on the timing of the remarks relative to the upcoming primary. There has been no immediate public response from the Hong campaign regarding Sanders' comments. As the primary approaches, the lack of an endorsement from a high-profile progressive leader like Sanders remains a notable development for observers of the Wisconsin gubernatorial contest.