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brooklynite

(93,847 posts)
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 12:08 AM Aug 2020

Marquita Bradshaw scores upset win in Tennessee Democratic Senate primary

Last edited Fri Aug 7, 2020, 06:31 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: NBC News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Memphis environmentalist, Black activist and single mom Marquita Bradshaw won the Democratic primary for an open U.S. Senate seat in Tennessee on Thursday.

Bradshaw defeated Nashville attorney and former Army helicopter pilot James Mackler, who had snagged an endorsement from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and others.

Bradshaw will face former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty, who defeated Nashville trauma surgeon Manny Sethi in the Republican primary.

Bradshaw and Hagerty are seeking to succeed Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander, who is retiring. Republicans have held both Senate seats in Tennessee since 1994.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/marquita-bradshaw-scores-upset-win-tennessee-democratic-senate-primary-n1236096

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Marquita Bradshaw scores upset win in Tennessee Democratic Senate primary (Original Post) brooklynite Aug 2020 OP
Excellent!!! K&R diva77 Aug 2020 #1
Please edit title Polybius Aug 2020 #2
Democrats don't have videohead5 Aug 2020 #3
As did Texas.. ananda Aug 2020 #5
When lever voting machines were replaced. Lars39 Aug 2020 #9
You're implying that Tennesee is more liberal, but their votes are being changed? brooklynite Aug 2020 #11
Progressives win another primary. jorgevlorgan Aug 2020 #4
I think this lady could use a few bucks for her campaign. AZ8theist Aug 2020 #6
Here ya go diva77 Aug 2020 #7
THANK YOU!!! AZ8theist Aug 2020 #8
Moderate to conservative Dems are not the way DeminPennswoods Aug 2020 #10
Because only Democrats vote in the General Election? NurseJackie Aug 2020 #12
In a state like TN that hasn't elected a Dem DeminPennswoods Aug 2020 #13
Hmmm... NurseJackie Aug 2020 #14
Can't agree with that at all DeminPennswoods Aug 2020 #19
Oh, please. The other candidates had a fair shot at being the nominee. Politicub Aug 2020 #21
Ridiculous. NurseJackie Aug 2020 #22
I guess we'll know in three months... brooklynite Aug 2020 #16
Nominating far-left candidates in red states is a guaranteed way to lose Dopers_Greed Aug 2020 #15
I look at it that way too. RhodeIslandOne Aug 2020 #17
"Far left" Yeehah Aug 2020 #20
The DSCC pick finished a distant third RhodeIslandOne Aug 2020 #18
Well, we've tried winning with moderates and even super-conservatives (Harold Ford Jr.) Polybius Aug 2020 #23

Polybius

(15,238 posts)
2. Please edit title
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 01:08 AM
Aug 2020

Full title is Marquita Bradshaw scores upset win in Tennessee Democratic Senate primary

With that out of the way, wow! This is a massive upset!

videohead5

(2,150 posts)
3. Democrats don't have
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 01:29 AM
Aug 2020

Much of a chance in Tennessee. It all changed during the 1990s. We used to have Al Gore and Jim Sasser as senators but the state turned solid red during the 90s.

brooklynite

(93,847 posts)
11. You're implying that Tennesee is more liberal, but their votes are being changed?
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 07:58 AM
Aug 2020

Do you have actual evidence of that?

DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
10. Moderate to conservative Dems are not the way
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 07:47 AM
Aug 2020

to go in these very R-friendly states any more, imo. Dems need to look at populist candidates for these seats. They are much more attuned to the kind of issues working class voters care about and Dems need to win over in order to win.

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
12. Because only Democrats vote in the General Election?
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 08:04 AM
Aug 2020


I'd much prefer to have a "moderate to conservative" Democrat holding office instead of watching a far-left Democrat lose to a more moderate Republican in the General Election.

DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
13. In a state like TN that hasn't elected a Dem
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 08:15 AM
Aug 2020

since 1994? I'm pretty sure Dems have been running centerist candidates for the past 25 years. It hasn't resulted in any wins. Populists speak to the economic issues that can unite voters of all races and genders instead of dividing them over cultural issues. Why do you think Andy Barr (R-KY) uninvited AOC to speak to his constituents? Because he knew what she said would resonate with them.

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
14. Hmmm...
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 09:50 AM
Aug 2020
Dems have been running centerist candidates for the past 25 years. It hasn't resulted in any wins.
There's a lesson toe be learned. Better to have a conservative Democrat instead of a Republican.

Populists speak to the economic issues that can unite voters of all races and genders instead of dividing them over cultural issues.
Yes, that's it I'm sure. We keep losing in conservative red states because our candidates aren't liberal and left-wing enough.

DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
19. Can't agree with that at all
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 01:09 PM
Aug 2020

The DSCC seems to think conservative Dems will attract conservative voters. But when given the choice between a Dem "conservative lite" candidate and a republican conservative candidate, conservative voters are going to choose the "real thing" R every time.

Dems are always trying to win over white working class/blue collar workers. Rs win them because they divide them from the others on cultural social issues like abortion. It keeps the white working class from making common cause with all the others in the same economic boat. A progressive or populist candidate can focus on the common economic issues that unite all working class voters and thus have a better chance at building a winning coalition. It gives voters a real choice.

Politicub

(12,163 posts)
21. Oh, please. The other candidates had a fair shot at being the nominee.
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 01:16 PM
Aug 2020

But they lost because the primary voters chose Bradshaw to represent them.

And, since my opinion is as valid as your own, maybe the red-state candidates the democrats have been running are not progressive enough. There is momentum behind progressive ideas. Maybe that will motivate people to go to the polls so they can vote for someone who represents them better than someone who is a shade less red than the republican nominee.

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
22. Ridiculous.
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 01:23 PM
Aug 2020
maybe the red-state candidates the democrats have been running are not progressive enough.
Ridiculous. Pure fantasy.

And, since my opinion is as valid as your own,
You certainly are entitled to your opinion. That doesn't make it correct.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_entitled_to_my_opinion

Dopers_Greed

(2,640 posts)
15. Nominating far-left candidates in red states is a guaranteed way to lose
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 11:13 AM
Aug 2020

Not like we were winning before though.

Might be worth a try at least.

 

RhodeIslandOne

(5,042 posts)
17. I look at it that way too.
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 11:45 AM
Aug 2020

Let’s see if she can bring new voters and voices to the polls in a seat we have no chance with anyway. It may give Biden a surprise boost.

 

RhodeIslandOne

(5,042 posts)
18. The DSCC pick finished a distant third
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 11:58 AM
Aug 2020

Simply embarrassing. I don’t want to hear that he would have done better in the general, if you can’t win the primary with the backing he got, you’re just not good enough.

Polybius

(15,238 posts)
23. Well, we've tried winning with moderates and even super-conservatives (Harold Ford Jr.)
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 02:11 PM
Aug 2020

There's nothing to lose by running a Justice Democrat.

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