As Wisconsin Democrats head to the polls to vote for their nominee in the governor's race, leading candidate Francesca Hong's past comments on whiteness, Trump and, more recently, Thanksgiving, could threaten her lead against former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.

The assembly member drew heat after she appeared on PBS's Listen Mike podcast and spoke about her "proximity to whiteness."

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"I wasn't always aware of the struggles of other communities of color because for me assimilation always kinda took over," she said. "My proximity to whiteness continues, right... My son is biracial. He's half white, half Korean, and I think navigating what his identity is and how people perceive him is always at the back of my mind as well."

Hong also has drawn scrutiny after an unearthed video surfaced of her calling to "86" President Trump. "In the restaurant industry, when we are out of something, we say it's 86'd. And I'd say it's about fucking time we 86 Trump," she said. She went on to say that Trump represents a failure of government both domestically and abroad.

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Hong caught heat again for her comments on Thanksgiving during an interview with CNN's Kaitlan Collins after being confronted about her 2021 call to abolish the national holiday.

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"I'm a chef, and one of the first meals that I made for the community when I was 16 was a Thanksgiving meal," Hong said. "But Thanksgiving is also a time that's incredibly painful for many people in our communities. And so I wanted to make sure that people understood that there are multiple views, but views can evolve. The position that I'm running for right now, and I think my background as a chef, will actually help me become a better governor who's able to bring more people to the table."

Barnes, who is running a distant second according to a new Marquette University Law School poll, has sought to draw a contrast with DSA-backed Hong by arguing Democrats should focus on issues such as the economy, affordability, and defeating Republicans in November rather than relitigating past cultural controversies. His campaign has framed him as a candidate better positioned to appeal to moderates and independent voters in a closely divided battleground state.

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