After attending UW–Madison, Hong began working as a dishwasher at 43 North Restaurant in Madison, later becoming a line cook, sous chef, and eventually executive chef at the restaurant in 2011.[3][6]
In 2016 Hong and her then-husband, Matt Morris, opened Morris Ramen.[5] The restaurant remained open until 2024, when it closed down in February of that year.[7] Also in 2016, Hong helped found the Culinary Ladies Collective, alongside fellow business owners Tami Lax and Laila Borokhim.[8]
Political career
In August 2020, incumbent representative Chris Taylor, of the 76th state assembly district, was appointed to be a judge on the Wisconsin Circuit Court for Dane County's 12th branch, which left the assembly district vacant until the end of the term.[9] Hong, who at the time did not reside in the district, announced a campaign to succeed her.[10] During the primary, Hong ran a progressive campaign opposing the Madison police union and supporting the ability for culinary workers to organize into unions, while also emphasizing her experience as a chef and restaurant owner.[11][12] She won the 7-person primary with 28% of the vote, a 6 point margin over fellow Democrat Tyrone Cratic Williams, who garnered 22.37%.[11]
Hong defeated Republican Patrick Hull in the general election by a 77 point margin, and was sworn in on January 4, 2021. She became the first Asian American state legislator in Wisconsin history.[13]
During her first term in the legislature, Hong sponsored efforts to raise the tipped minimum wage.[14] During her first term, Hong introduced a bill to establish an Economic Bill of Rights in Wisconsin.[15] A supporter of environmental rights, she was among 10 people to sign up for a "dunk tank" fundraiser in Madison on August 1, 2021, to raise awareness about the importance of clean water.[16]
In March 2025, Hong supported the Climate Accountability Act, which aimed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030, with the goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.[22] Hong additionally co-sponsored a bill establishing an Economic Bill of Rights in the state, which she had previously introduced in the 2021–2022 and 2023–2024 legislative sessions.[23]
In May 2025, Hong formed the first Asian Caucus in the State Assembly with freshman representatives Angelito Tenorio and Renuka Mayadev.[24]
After incumbent governor Tony Evers announced he would not run for a third term in the 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial election, Hong expressed interest in seeking the Democratic nomination to succeed him.[25][26] She formally launched her campaign for governor on September 17, 2025, making comparisons to Rosie the Riveter in her campaign launch and calling to fund public education and universal childcare, while vowing not to take any corporate PAC donations to fund her campaign.[27] Hong faces a crowded Democratic Party primary field, including the incumbent lieutenant governor, Sara Rodriguez, Milwaukee County executive David Crowley, and Madison state senator Kelda Roys. Hong has described herself as the "wild card" in the race, running as a progressive outsider.[28]
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