How will a campaign manager's unconventional past impact a candidate's last-minute push for mainstream votes before the August 11 primary?

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It is likely to hurt Francesca Hong’s late effort to win risk-averse, mainstream Democrats, but the size of the damage will depend on whether undecided voters see Renee Faust mainly as a liability or as a staffer with a broader professional background. The timing matters. With the Aug. 11 primary days away and more than 112,000 absentee ballots already returned, there is limited time for Hong to fully reframe the story. At this stage, campaigns are usually trying to reassure undecided voters on judgment and electability. Instead, Hong is facing another distracting controversy layered onto earlier scrutiny over old social media posts and past policy positions she has since moderated. For voters already uneasy about Hong’s ideological profile, reports that a deputy campaign manager has a public history in adult entertainment and sex-worker advocacy may reinforce concerns about whether the campaign is outside the political mainstream. That is especially relevant in a competitive statewide race where rivals and outside critics are already arguing that Democrats need a candidate who can appeal beyond a progressive base. At the same time, the impact is not automatic. Hong’s campaign is emphasizing Faust’s credentials as a licensed mental health clinician who has worked with trafficking survivors and grassroots organizing. Among voters who prioritize authenticity, coalition-building and nontraditional backgrounds, that defense may blunt some of the criticism. The bigger political t…

Renee Olstead Serves as Francesca Hong Deputy Campaign Manager Before Aug. 12 Primary

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Renee Olstead Serves as Francesca Hong Deputy Campaign Manager Before Aug. 12 Primary

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