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Democrats face key test of Trump-era suburban strategy
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — In one of the first tests of Democrats' path through traditionally Republican suburbs to the House majority, the major candidates in a congressional primary here Tuesday are employing a big-tent strategy rather than racing to the ideological extremes.
Three of the top Democrats seeking a GOP-held House seat in suburban Chicagoland know they'll need to appeal to Republicans who have turned on President Donald Trump in order to flip the once-safe seat in November. And unlike Conor Lamb — the apparent winner in last week's special congressional election in a Pennsylvania district Trump won by 20 points — Trump's low approval ratings allow these Democrats to slam the president, even as they appeal to voters used to supporting Republicans.
Kelly Mazeski, a breast cancer survivor, says her focus on health care “crosses all party lines.” Sean Casten, a clean-energy executive, says, “There are parts of the Democratic Party I agree with, and there are parts I disagree with.” Carole Cheney, a former district chief of staff to Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.), said simply: “I don’t like labels.”
...
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/20/illinois-democrats-suburban-republicans-roskam-473002
Three of the top Democrats seeking a GOP-held House seat in suburban Chicagoland know they'll need to appeal to Republicans who have turned on President Donald Trump in order to flip the once-safe seat in November. And unlike Conor Lamb — the apparent winner in last week's special congressional election in a Pennsylvania district Trump won by 20 points — Trump's low approval ratings allow these Democrats to slam the president, even as they appeal to voters used to supporting Republicans.
Kelly Mazeski, a breast cancer survivor, says her focus on health care “crosses all party lines.” Sean Casten, a clean-energy executive, says, “There are parts of the Democratic Party I agree with, and there are parts I disagree with.” Carole Cheney, a former district chief of staff to Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.), said simply: “I don’t like labels.”
...
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/20/illinois-democrats-suburban-republicans-roskam-473002
Hold the base, capture the middle.