Dressed in witch hats and long green robes, and bathed in spooky red light, six far-left candidates in the Los Angeles municipal elections June 2 played an election-themed Dungeons & Dragons game at the Fonda Theatre before 400 people. The event, starring candidates endorsed by the L.A. chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, raised $30,000 in campaign contributions - small change compared to the millions of dollars hauled in at the star-studded fundraisers Los Angeles is famous for.
Hong called to abolish police departments in a plethora of social media posts and public statements, with one X post from 2021 declaring, Police exist to uphold white supremacy. Hong, a 37-year-old Wisconsin state representative and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is running against fellow Democrats Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, and state Sen. Kelda Roys. CNN's review highlighted multiple posts from 2020 and 2021 in which Hong explicitly advocated for dismantling police departments.
"You stood in the cold, knocked on doors, talked to our community, and believed in this campaign even when people said it couldn't be done," Abdelhamid said in a post on Instagram.
The Democratic Socialists of America - empowered and gaining mainstream influence after Mamdani's win in the mayoral election this month - held a "Tax the Rich" rally in Union Square Sunday as Democratic state lawmakers warm to the tax increases over worries they could face primaries and the wrath of liberals in next year's elections. DSA member and Brooklyn state Sen. Jibari Brisport told those gathered that he twice tried to work with Hochul on passing universal childcare legislation, only to get rebuffed.
