A statistic about moderate Democrats that you will not believe

[Yosemito]

After reading this statistic about the 2018 midterms, I realize that I underestimated the strength of moderate Democrats in our party:

Thirty-three of the 40 GOP seats that Democrats picked up were won by candidates who had been endorsed by the moderate NewDem PAC.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-democrats-push-back-against-partys-liberal-surge/2019/03/01/a6674430-3c38-11e9-a2cd-307b06d0257b_story.html

[flotsam]

1. Looks like the post has an agenda N/T

[CrossingTheRubicon]

2. Those so-called "moderates" who defeated Republicans are the liberal surge.

There is a lot of gaslighting going on.

[quickesst]

3. Moderate is where most Democrats...

... and left-leaning Independents reside. The far left may ignore them, but they do so at their own peril. I believe it's one of the reasons Joe Biden is polling so well.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Given a choice, 54% of rank-and-file Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents would prefer that their party move closer to the center, and 41% would rather it shift further left. At the same time, rank-and-file Republicans and Republican-leaning independents favor a shift to the right for their party, as 57% say they would prefer it to be more conservative, and 37% say more moderate.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/245462/democrats-favor-moderate-party-gop-conservative.aspx

[Nanjeanne]

11. That depends on what you or the article you reference consider the center. Modt

Americans want Medicare For All, higher taxes on the wealthy, debt free public college, paid guaranteed sick leave and parental leave, money out of politics, clean energy.

The center of America is more closely aligned with the “left” .

Take out media and R wing words and not just ads but independents and even are support the policies of the “left” Dems.

[quickesst]

12. I agree with most everything you're saying

Unfortunately, the right wing spin, along with the influence of the MSM cannot be discounted. Most of your regular everyday people do identify with the Democratic agenda, but it's not something they delve into as deeply as, say, we here at Democratic Underground, so that right-wing spin does influence how people think. They're thinking, " although I identify with the Democratic Party, I am cautious about going too far to the left." That is the influence of the right-wing spin coupled with those Democrats and independents who are moderate regardless of any influences. I am hoping that as time goes by those moderates will begin to realize who has their best interest in mind, and along with the anticipated self destruction of the Republican Party will bring those moderates further and further to the left. Hopefully, the Blue Wave was the beginning of that process in earnest. That's just my opinion.

[Nanjeanne]

13. Agree Dems need to better articulate and push back against media labels.

[quickesst]

14. I think we're on the same page

[elleng]

4. Definitions are important,

and labels can be misleading.

[Awsi Dooger]

5. Not surprising

We weren't going to swipe all those suburban districts with nominees from the far left. NewDem Pac had a better general election record than DCCC and light years superior to any of the left wing groups. If we allow the left wing groups to keep forcing candidates who don't fit the district or the state we'll end up with more unforced errors like Andrew Gillum over Gwen Graham.

https://www.thirdway.org/memo/2018-endorsement-scorecard

[Yosemito]

7. Gillum lost, but so did Bill Nelson

I'm not sure Florida is the best example in favor of centrism.

[WeekiWater]

10. Florida voters are hard to wake up.

The state is a pretty stable wild Wild West. Has been for a long time. Our governors, once elected, do a great job at flying under the radar. We are as capitalist as a state gets and our governors are recognized for two things. Bringing new industry into the state and managing natural disasters.

A part of our electorate is starting to wake up with some of our major environmental issues that are catching up with us. But our Republicans say one thing on camera and then do something else behind the scene. They aren’t getting away with it as easily as they use to because over the last ten years or so our news organizations have become some of the best in the country. They have really upped their game with investigative journalism and how they get that info to the people.

[Cha]

6. That's What I've Been Saying.. BLUEWAVE.

didn't happen because of an 80% BLUE District Voting for another Dem.

It Happened because Dems, All Across Our Country, of All Stripes FLIPPED Red Seats to BLUEWAVE!


Mahalo for the reminder, Yosemito.. BookMarked.

[Squinch]

8. ANOTHER post about pitting Dem against Dem.

Stop with the labels pitting Dem against Dem. If there is a problem with a particular Democrat or policy, fight that out, but enough with the buying in on every media effort to divide Democrats!

We are Democrats.

This particular article does not even illustrate two sides. It shows a very talented young representative, who is often fabulous but sometimes makes ill considered statements. And it shows everyone else saying, "Well that was ill-considered!"

We don't have to dig out own graves and stand in front of them, waiting for the republican bullet.

I am suspicious if any poster who frequently posts about "centrist vs. left wing". Its generally bullshit.

[WeekiWater]

9. Overall, it makes sense and will always be that way.

It’s more likely to flip a seat in a more moderate district than in a district entrenched in one ideology.

[crazycatlady]

15. This is not surprising

The districts that are considered 'swing' are when the PVI is fairly even. The hardcore D (think AOC's district) or the hardcore R districts are not going to flip.

Also voters are more likely to cross party lines if the other side is running a moderate.

[Tom Rinaldo]

16. Actually it's interesting that 7 of the flips had Democratic victors who were NOT moderate

That is actually somewhat impressive for red districts.

[Gothmog]

17. We picked up two seats in Texas with moderate candidates

Texas will turn blue. There are a large number of real democrats working hard to turn Texas blue. The major cities have been blue for a while and now the suburbs are flipping. This makes me smile https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/03/texas-gop-races-2020-1202205

House Republicans like Olson, who defeated Democrat Sri Preston Kulkarni by fewer than 14,000 votes in a fast-changing slice of the Houston suburbs last year, say they have gotten the message too. Campaigns are mirroring the state party’s early staffing,

“We plan on it being more a retail race,” said Melissa Kelly, Olson’s chief of staff, who added that Olson plans on being even more active in the diversifying community, attending events like Chinese New Year and Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

“He’s definitely preparing for it to be a more challenging environment,” Kelly said.

Olson’s race is one of six congressional races in Texas that the national Democrats already are targeting in 2020. With the exception of Hurd’s district, which takes in a massive swath of West Texas along the Mexican border, all are contained in fast-growing, rapidly diversifying suburban districts outside cities like Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Fort Worth.

We have six congrssional seats that we will run moderates in for 2020