MI-GOV: Ocasio-Cortez adds Michigan to campaign schedule to help Democrat Abdul El-Sayed

[RandySF]

New York congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will head to Michigan at the end of this month for four separate events with Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate for governor — her most extensive campaign plans yet as she lends her brand to Democrats in races against the party establishment.

“Abdul inspires me,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement. “His commitment inspires me, his background inspires me, his work inspires me, and we have to have each other’s backs if we’re going to change this country.”

El-Sayed, the 33-year old former director of Detroit’s health department, was on the national political radar long before Ocasio-Cortez’s upset defeat of longtime incumbent Rep. Joseph Crowley in the Democratic primary in a district comprising parts of the Bronx and Queens. A Rhodes scholar whose work in Detroit had been closely watched by urban reformers, El-Sayed jumped into the governor’s race in early 2017 as state party leaders worked to recruit a candidate who could end their run of statewide electoral losses.

By last summer, El-Sayed had hoped to turn the campaign into a choice between himself and Gretchen Whitmer, a former Democratic leader in the state Senate. That plan was complicated by a challenge to his Michigan residency — which he turned back in court — and by the self-funding campaign of Shri Thanedar, a first-time candidate whose ads called him a “fiscally responsible Bernie Sanders.”


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/powerpost/wp/2018/07/16/ocasio-cortez-adds-michigan-to-campaign-schedule-to-help-democrat-abdul-el-sayed/

[LisaM]

1. I really like Gretchen Whitmer.

I am not sure I understand the motivation here.

[RandySF]

3. El-Sayed's one of Our Revolution candidates

There are serious questions about residency rules and the Republicans are waiting to take him to court should he win the nomination.

[thewhollytoast]

2. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ran for a place on the ticket and won.

I get the feeling you don't like her. Why?

Toast

[LisaM]

5. She's going out and working against good Dems.

I think that's rubbing people the wrong way. As a first-time candidate, she should be preparing for her own race, and holding her powder to use against Republicans. Gretchen Whitmer is enormously likeable and talented, with a good track record in Michigan.

[bigtree]

17. It's a primary. That's what happens in primaries.

...recall if you will, the storied career of Adam Clayton Powell in NY, upset by an upstart young candidate named Charlie Rangel.

Elections are dynamic. That's a good thing.

[melman]

23. And Whitmer isn't even an incumbent

She just apparently has the right to run unopposed because...why exactly I don't know. But that seems to be the argument. First it was don't run against incumbents. Now it's evolved to just 'don't run if we think you shouldn't'. Just because.

[LisaM]

49. Any Dem running for governor in Michigan won't be an incumbent.

She's been a star in the Senate, though. She's a favorite in the race, and I don't see the sense in sowing discord. What does Ocasio-Cortez know, or care, about the Michigan governor's race? Did she ever work or campaign against Snyder? (Which, BTW, Bernie did not, though Hillary did).

[JonLP24]

113. Outside politicians endorse politicians in primaries all the time

I don't get mad when Joe Biden endorses someone other than my candidate and treat DU to thread after thread to outrage threads over endorsements or support.

[sheshe2]

126. Yet have all/ some /most /any candidates...

that have won a primary and have not yet won a general election doing this? Please post a list where the "candidate" has gone state to state endorsing candidates to primary sitting progressive Democratic candidates.

Thanks in advance.

[lagomorph777]

39. bbbbut - Nobody shall question the Annointed Ones!

Only Good Dems are allowed to run!

[JHan]

59. this is your hot take?

[sheshe2]

62. ;)

[JCanete]

95. what's your take? nt

[awesomerwb1]

92. Wow

THe irony is thick here.

[bigtree]

16. These Democratic candidates helping each other in primaries has become a flashpoint of opposition

...whether it's their past support of Bernie Sanders, or their temerity helping fellow Democratic candidates outside of their own district or state, a hysteria has cropped up among some here about primary challenges to incumbents.

It's not just her, but as the op says, it's an opposition to this group, Our Revolution' that many are organizing their election bids behind. Much of it looks to be a reaction to longtime legislators who people feel shouldn't be challenged, or incumbents who they feel are (nearly) the only ones who can hold the seat.

My two cents is that it's a reaction to Sanders-backed candidates who have the audacity to challenge sitting Democrats, as if our primaries aren't open to anyone who feels they can do a better job representing a district or state, and their supporters looking for change.

These are just Democrats participating in a primary and AOC playing a leading role in organizing assistance (resources and manpower) to these freshman campaigns.

The initial resentment came when she actually upset the 70-something incumbent, Crowley. Then came the outrage that she isn't supporting who people feel she should; that she's organizing like-minded candidates who she has partnered with in several races around the country.

Never mind that incumbents get prioritized help from the national party, money from myriad interest groups around the nation, as well as assistance from a network of lobbyists and pols who they interact with in office.

To these entrenched pols, AOC is a definite risk, whether she's successful or not. The notion that someone who has as little experience as she, with such a strident and confident agenda, can upset an incumbent like Crowley is seen by some as a threat to established order.

Power does not concede willingly.

[RandySF]

24. They're backing weaker candidates.

[bigtree]

26. man, you're arguing against democracy

...with a bias.

I haven't heard the candidates themselves complain as much about the competition as some folks here.

I'm glad there's no actual movement against the efforts of these candidates from the party. It's boneheaded to make a specific issue out of their running in the first place. It's really indefensible as a general argument, and self-defeating if applied to any individual race.

Railing against these candidates so arbitrarily - women, minorities included - on the basis of their decision to challenge incumbencies is also an attack on their supporters, many likely new to the system and valuable allies for our Democratic coalition.

It's either tone-deaf, or wrongheaded. That's the best I can say about the effort.

[RandySF]

31. See below

El Sayed might not even make the November ballot if nominated. It’s not democracy I dislike, it’s poor judgement.

[bigtree]

32. it's not new, and it's not restricted to these candidates supported by AOC

...but that's been your solitary focus.

I should be forgiven for assuming the complaint here is about these particular folks - many of them women and minorities - participating and banding together as Democrats in a Democratic primary. That's what you've been questioning here. This particular group of candidates supported by AOC supporting each others campaigns.

[RandySF]

35. How does this apply to Sharice Davids

a woman of color and GLBT American in Kansas? Bernie and AOC are going to campaign for her chief rival who is a straight white male who questioned the legitimacy of Hillary’s nomination in 2016 citing the stolen (by the Russians) DNC materials.

[bigtree]

37. you mean where I say 'many?'

That example doesn't negate what I wrote. These freshman Democratic candidates have every right to band together to help counter the clear advantages of incumbencies and party-backed Democratic opposition. It's just not an issue. It's more of a flashpoint of manufactured outrage for some folks here at DU, and, predictably, these freshman candidates' opposition.

[EffieBlack]

75. She's tearing her ass with me on this one.

But she'd best be careful - Sharice Davids is a badass.

[RandySF]

78. +10

[guillaumeb]

53. And you said it very well in both replies. eom

[GaryCnf]

104. Is that it?

Tell me, is Davids running ahead of Welder?

Welder has a ton of momentum behind him with Andrea Ramsey, the former prohibitive favorite in that race, and Jason Kander, endorsing him. He is polling ahead of Yoder.

All of a sudden CENTRIST (read her priorities page, total mainstream) Davids jumps into the race backed by $400K of PAC money. All of a sudden negative ads start coming out and negative stories about Weldee start getting fed to the media.

That is pure rf'ing and it smells of David Brock just like the attacks here. This has nothing to do with the stronger candidate. It has to do with triangulating.

[lapucelle]

107. Emily's List endorsed Davids last week.

Sharice "suddenly jumped into the race" back in February. I'm not sure why anyone thinks that PAC money is necessarily bad, but both the Republican and Welder have received far more PAC money than she.

https://www.emilyslist.org/candidates/sharice-davids



https://www.opensecrets.org/races/pacs?cycle=2018&id=KS03

[GaryCnf]

109. Nice,chart

Now put Emily List's $400K in there.

OOPS!!!!!!!!

Anti Berners who STILL live in denial and bitterness jumped into a race where the leading Democrat was headed toward flipping a seat.

This is not about caring about the party. It's not about caring about America. It's about a cult of personality.

[lapucelle]

110. You object to spending by all ideological interest groups? Seriously?

While Open Secrets has not released the July figures for PAC contributions to individual candidates, it will be interesting to see whether Emily's List actually did donate more money to a candidate in a congressional primary race in Kansas than it did to any other Democratic congressional candidate except for Claire McCaskill.

Either Emily's List must think it's really, really important that Sharice Davids win the Kansas primary, someone doesn't understand the difference between donations and outside expenditures, or both.

OOPS!!!!!!!

Looks like somebody didn't think this through.

https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?cycle=2018&id=D000000113

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/07/11/emilys-list-jumps-into-six-way-kansas-house-primary-race/?utm_term=.aab53d44bde9

[George II]

111. According to FEC.gov through June 30:

Welder has received 50,000 from other committees, $196,000 in "unitemized contributions"
Davids has received 10,000 from other committees, $77,000 in "unitemized contributions"

https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00651158/

https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H8KS03155/

Having been a treasurer for several candidates and committees, I'm always wary of "unitemized contributions".

[GaryCnf]

112. Oh my, hit a nerve?

I have no doubt it is important to Emily's list that Davids stop an actual progressive Democrat from flipping a seat in a deep red state, even if it costs our party the election.

Whether the Washington Post is lying is something you'll need to take up with them.

Also, it looks like someone wants to argue about semantics instead of whether Emily's List is willing sacrifice a House seat to stop progressives.

Btw, I missed their donation to Ocasio-Cortez. Is it on the next page?

[lapucelle]

114. You need to read more closely and learn to make distinctions.

According to media trackers, Women Vote!, the group’s PAC, is spending nearly $400,000 on advertising in support of Sharice Davids, a Native American activist and former White House fellow who entered the race in February.

I'm not saying that the Washington Post is lying. Their story is accurate. What is inaccurate is the conflation of outside expenditure with direct contributions. That's your blunder. If you think that this is a matter of mere semantics, take it up with the FEC. They're the one that insists on the distinction, and it is a distinction with a very real difference.

It is unclear why Emily's List is not endorsing AOC, but the Brand New Congress pac imposes very strict rules on it's candidates, and they have little (if any) autonomy in running their own campaigns.

It is not unusual to see some lash out, hurt and bewildered when some of the womenfolk just won't listen. Emily's List needs neither you nor Brent Welder to save it from itself. But thanks for playing.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/07/11/emilys-list-jumps-into-six-way-kansas-house-primary-race/?utm_term=.420edae4964c

https://www.emilyslist.org/candidates/gallery/house

https://web.archive.org/web/20180131081034/http://brandnewcongress.org/faqs/

[George II]

115. Funny how it's the progressive minority female who is trying to stop the progressive male, huh?

Funny how that works sometimes.

[lapucelle]

116. Anyone who shouted down and booed BS's endorsement announcement,

revealed his entitled white male savior complex by telling WaPo that he was on a quest to save the Democratic nominee from herself, and came "this close" to voting for Jill Stein is not a progressive in my book.

He didn't just think this stuff; he proudly proclaimed it to the national and international press. There's a reason why people don't trust his judgement.

[George II]

117. Here's the article about his announcement (from July 2017):

Sanders loyalist who 'struggled' to vote for Clinton to run for Congress in Kansas

A Bernie Sanders loyalist who “struggled” to vote for Hillary Clinton is entering the Democratic primary for one of the most competitive House races in the country.

The Guardian has learned that Brent Welder, a longtime Democratic operative and labor lawyer, will announce his candidacy in Kansas’s third congressional district on Monday.

The district, covering suburban Kansas City and represented by Republican Kevin Yoder, was won by Hillary Clinton in 2016 and has long been viewed as a top Democratic target in the 2018 midterm elections. The district is prosperous and well educated and was represented by Democrat Dennis Moore for a decade before he retired in 2010.

Welder, who spent more than a year working on the Sanders presidential campaign, joins a crowded primary field that includes Jay Sidie, the Democratic candidate in 2016, and Andrea Ramsey, a former president of a not-for-profit health clinic who is backed by Emily’s List.

.......................

“One of my biggest issues is getting corrupting influence of big money out of politics,” he said, “and I was attracted to the fact that [Green party candidate] Jill Stein was very dedicated to that cause, I will say, and I wasn’t afraid to look into the possibility of supporting her.”

He made clear that he did go door to door for Clinton and the rest of the Democratic ticket and decided to back her “when I got into the voting booth to actually vote”.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/24/sanders-brent-welder-clinton-democrats-kansas-congress

[JHan]

118. BOOOM

[lapucelle]

119. ,,,

[GaryCnf]

120. Let's make this easy

Is any arm of Emily's list spending $400k on Davids' behalf?

Or do you want to keep playing games to avoid discussing whether a centrist organization is willing to leave a seat in Republican hands in order to keep a progressive out of office?

Btw, it's not "womenfolk." It's centrists. If it were women they would be backing progressive women too.

[lapucelle]

121. Let's make this even easier.

Emily's List is not a "centrist organization" anymore than Planned Parenthood is the "political establishment". (Didn't people learn anything from that debacle?)

The only folks who would make that claim are either suffering from a surfeit of entitlement, a deficit of analytical perspective, or a tendency to respond to perceived threat with ridiculous invective.

This would be funny if it were not so frighteningly regressive.

Educate yourself.

https://www.emilyslist.org/pages/entry/our-mission

[GaryCnf]

123. And even easier still

Contributes to Joe Manchin but not Ocasio-Cortez.

As a matter of fact, other than the like 25 bucks it sent to the co-chair of the party, what other Sanders/OR/BNC supporter male or female is it supporting and how much did they get.

They are trying to derail the only Democrat who has a chance to beat Yoder.

[lapucelle]

128. If people learn to pay attention,

Last edited Fri Jul 20, 2018, 12:49 PM - Edit history (1)

they’ll be able to do their homework all by themselves next time.

BNC spokesman, founder, and partner in the money division Brand New Campaign LLC, Corbin Trent has not disclosed detailed information concerning how his candidates are funded. I think it’s safe to say that Emily’s List did not contribute to the Republican candidate BNC ran in Arkansas and will not be contributing to the former Republican, newly-minted independent candidate BNC is running against the Democrat in the GE in Tennessee.

It appears that Emily’s List, like BS, sat out the race in NY's 14th. I am glad, however, that I checked or I wouldn't have known about the $3,399 donation that the principled BNC candidate accepted from JP Morgan Chase. (That's more than 3 times the amount that Emily's List gave Manchin for his primary this year.)

Because BNC and OR are a relatively new PAC/LLC and a relatively new 501(c)(4) /dark money organization respectively, there is little data for activity in the 2016 cycle.

BNC raised $252,000, spent nothing on federal candidates, and disbursed $220,000 to its own LLC. This cycle, BNC raised $477,000 and have thus far contributed a total of $1650 to three Democratic candidates, none of whom are AOC.

While there is no data available for OR in the 2018 cycle. some numbers available for 2016. OR spent $440,000 on two Democratic races, but their fundraising totals and donors are undisclosed.

Emily’s List did contribute to and endorse the OR approved Zephyr Teachout and Pramila Jayapal for Congress in 2016. They also supported the Sanders-endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Stacey Abrams in 2018. Oh, and does Elizabeth Warren count? Has she received the highly coveted imprimatur from BS, OR, and BNC? Emily’s List has been with her from the start.

It speaks to Emily’s List’s commitment to honesty and transparency in election funding that an abundance of financial data is available to voters. I wonder why OR and BNC deliberately built secrecy and nondisclosure into their financial business models. It hardly inspires confidence. Where’s all the money coming from and where on earth is it going?

Emily’s List all federal candidates in 2018 cycle (as of July 1; ongoing)
https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?cycle=2018&id=D000000113

Emily’s List all federal candidates in 2016 cycle
https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000000113&type=P&state=&sort=A&cycle=2016

Brand New Congress all federal candidates in 2018 cycle (as of July 1; ongoing)
https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00613810

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 2018
https://www.opensecrets.org/races/contributors?cycle=2018&id=NY14&spec=N

Our Revolution all federal candidates in 2018 cycle (as of July 1; ongoing)
https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cmte=C90017005&cycle=2018

Our Revolution all federal candidates in 2016 cycle
https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/contrib.php?cmte=C90017005&cycle=2016
https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/recips.php?cmte=C90017005&cycle=2016

[George II]

122. Let's look at it this way. The seat is currently held by someone on the RIGHT, meaning the trend...

...in the district is conservative.

So, please explain to me (I've asked this, not of you but just here on DU, a dozen times without an answer) how someone FURTHER to the left of "centrist" (your characterization) is going to attract enough voters to defeat someone on the right?

To explain in another way, presumably the conservative defeated a "centrist" (your characterization) last time around. So how does someone even further left of his last opponent win?

And Emily's list is supporting a "centrist" (your characterization) in order to WIN the seat, not keep a progressive out of the seat.

[GaryCnf]

124. Nice try

He's polling 4 points ahead of Yoder. Davids isn't.

[George II]

125. Based on what? Neither Welder (among six possibles) nor Yoder (among three possibles)....

....are the candidates yet. It's not very useful to compare two candidates who aren't even the candidates.

To quote you, "Nice try" Gary.

[GaryCnf]

127. A couple of quick points

First, Gary is the location of the first political convention I attended and the only one where I had a voice or vote.

You are free, of course, to live in a fantasy world where the incumbent Yoder will not be the Republican candidate. You are free to dismiss pre-primary polling as meaningless. I am certain you can point to a whole collection of articles, memes, etc. in our archives here to support you when all I can do is point to the currently ongoing destruction of our country.

You may do whatever you want, heck, you can even jump in the meaningless discussion of PAC donations vs. outside spending.

None of it changes the fact that Sharice Davids, as inspiring as she is as a person, will not beat Yoder, unlikely will not beat Welder, but will, through the Brockian triangulation of Democrats through bullshit arguments that sexism is what separates her supporters from Welder's, suppress turn out in the GE and cost us a flippable seat.

[lapucelle]

130. The only two choices in the polling questions were Yoder and Welder.

If you rig the commissioned poll by excluding any and all other candidates, Welder happens to poll 4 points ahead of Yoder with 9% undecided.



http://act.boldprogressives.org/survey/2018polling_ks03/

[George II]

131. I haven't been able to find any polls of the Democrats vs. each other OR Davids vs. Yoder. But...

...it's funny when a so-called "progressive" takes on a so-called "centrist", it's demonstrating "a democratic right", but reverse the roles and the "centrist" is trying to steal the seat from the "progressive".

We've seen this over and over again this spring and summer.

[lapucelle]

129. That's because the only Democratic candidate included

in the one, single, solitary "poll" available (commissioned and paid for by PCCC) is Brent Welder. How do you know that Davids wouldn't poll 4, 14, or 24 points ahead of Yoder? No data on Sharice Davids was collected in this commissioned poll because the poll was written to yield a tailor-made, predetermined result. So much for truth and ethics.

Q: If the general election for Congress were held today, and the candidates were Democrat Brent Welder and Republican Kevin Yoder, who would you be more likely to vote for?

Brent Welder 49%
Kevin Yoder 42%
Not sure 9%

I'd say nice try, but it's just sad that any organization is this deceptive and any candidate is this desperate.

http://act.boldprogressives.org/survey/2018polling_ks03/

[wonkwest]

58. It's all about Bernie

It’s not even a secret at this point.

Most important midterms in our lifetimes, and some people just want to keep Punching Left.

It’s obscene.

She lost. Get. The fuck. Over it.

[ucrdem]

63. Yes it is, and no it was never a secret.

It's just that we're not supposed to mention it.

[sheshe2]

64. You are right about one thing.

wonkwest

58. It's all about Bernie

You are 100% correct.

She lost. Get. The fuck. Over it.

He lost. Get. The f***. Over it.

See, it works both ways.

[wonkwest]

82. I'm not the one bashing Democrats around here

Ocasio-Cortez is guilty. She’s a liberal who supported Bernie. Oh, no! Burn her!

I’ll leave you guys to it.

I have Democrats I’m trying to get elected over here while you’re bothered by this young woman.

[Cha]

74. Boomerang "Get. The fuck. Over it." Hillary didn't

lose.. the Russians had a big part in stealing it from her.. along with their enablers who chose to believe LIES that she was worse than trump.

[wonkwest]

80. She lost. She's gone.

Move. On.

We have shit that needs to get done now.

[Cha]

85. Sorry, you're Wrong. Move. On.

[joshcryer]

87. What if she decided to run?

Would you be defending her right to run in a primary like you are so happy to do with these white dudes that Our Revolution happlessly endorsed because they formally worked on Sanders' campaign?

[wonkwest]

133. Who, Hillary?

She can run. And I'd defend her right to run. But it's a disastrously bad idea. I've not seen solid arguments against Cortez that would be similar.

[kcr]

79. Haven't been paying attention to the news last couple of days, have you?

The rest of the world found out about Russia's meddling.

[wonkwest]

83. And yet Ocasia-Cortez is the villain

Interesting priorities.

[kcr]

88. Villain? No.

The point is she's not that great, either. And I think it's twisting a few undies that more and more people are realizing it. That's her fault.

[wonkwest]

132. She's not perfect. Or even wise.

I see things coming out of her mouth where I find myself going, wait, what? But she's such a clear challenge to the Old Guard, that I don't appreciate the focus on bringing her down.

It's an obvious attempt.

Eight billion primaries happening at the moment, but she's the problem.

The focus is obvious, detrimental, and married to those who would keep power rather than pass it on to those who come next.

It's a bit of anti-Millenial nonsense, which I find shocking in the supposed Democratic Party.

[Cha]

86. Some can't admit it no mattter what

evidence is provided.

kcr

[Celerity]

94. great reply, I agree with you, this is what democracy looks like

[LisaM]

101. Crowley is 56, not in his 70s. n/t

[betsuni]

103. 70-something incumbent -- you're thinking of someone else. Not Crowley.

Someone who's been in office for decades. You know, establishment.

[Demsrule86]

22. I don't like her interfering in other state's elections. We are going for the House and we need

governorships as well. OR could cause us to lose our chance, and if we don't get the House we are done. Trump runs amok. If we don't get the governorships with this rightie court, we will continue to have a gerrymander and no matter how pure and perfect our candidates are, we lose. I was neutral towards Ms. OCasio - Cortez but I dislike her now . She is the Democrat so I hope she wins of course. But perhaps a primary for her in two years would not be a bad thing. I strongly dislike OR and their candidates and would never vote for one supported by this group in a primary.

[bigtree]

27. there's all kinds of outside money in the majority of those other campaigns

...pretending like the newcomers banding together is different from their Democratic opponents accepting outside help in the way of contributions and the rest is sophistry or just ignorance about how campaigns are run. It's laughable to act as if staffers from freshman campaigns are an equal match for the advantages of incumbencies, for instance. Not only are most of them awash with corporate, PAC dollars from...everywhere, they are advantaged by the connections with everyone from lobbyists to their counterparts in the legislature.

I've seen countless campaigns bring in a pol from another state to campaign with them. Volunteers stream into states to help with campaigns all of the time. Outsiders are recruited for campaign management. This is just not an issue.

[AtomicKitten]

96. She's campaigning for Justice Democrats.

What they have in common are policy positions and the pledge not to accept corporate PAC money.

The candidates: https://now.justicedemocrats.com/candidates

[Cha]

4. I like Gretchen Whitmer, too. Good Luck Michigan

in getting a Dem Gov this time!

Link to tweet

[still_one]

7. Gretchen Whitmer pulls way ahead in latest governor's race poll

A new poll released by Michigan Information & Research Service (MIRS) shows Gretchen Whitmer pulling ahead of Shri Thanedar and Abdul El-Sayed in the race for the Democratic nomination for governor.

MIRS found Whitmer polling at 40 percent, while Thanedar and El-Sayed landed at 19 and 17 percent, respectively. MIRS polled 400 Democratic voters over the phone — 28 percent of the calls went to cell phones — between June 24 and June 26.

That represents a huge swing from polling in early May, which put Thanedar ahead by a small margin. Since then, Whitmer has begun running television ads, and multiple stories questioned Thanedar's progressive credentials. He and El-Sayed are viewed as more progressive than Whitmer, and they appear to be splitting that vote, to a degree.


https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2018/07/02/gretchen-whitmer-pulls-way-ahead-in-latest-governors-race-poll

[Cha]

9. Good! Steady as she goes, Gretchen Whitmer!

Link to tweet

by Félix Pérez; image above, Gretchen Whitmer with Dreamer student supporters

In MI governor’s race, Gretchen Whitmer, foe of for-profit charters, takes on DeVos supporter

https://educationvotes.nea.org/2018/05/04/in-mi-governors-race-gretchen-whitmer-foe-of-for-profit-charters-takes-on-devos-supporter/

Thanks, stillone!

[sheshe2]

65. Thank you, still_one.

I like those numbers. Steady as she goes.

[joshcryer]

66. Thank God.

OR candidates need to lose the primaries, not the general which the vast majority of them are going to lose.

[thewhollytoast]

8. tilt your hand a little bit more

go home get mad and wake up tomorrow disappointed. Susan Sarandon is the devil. Really?

[Blue_true]

28. What is the purpose of your post? The poster doesn't agree with your take on things.

Why make backhanded insults?

[JNelson6563]

10. Ugh! El Sayed can't win uber racist MI.

And he's running against a good Dem who is qualifed. His followers are getting so obnoxious, it's 2016 primary redux. I can't wait til this shit's over.

[RandySF]

11. There's another danger lurking out there

There are legal questions surrounding El-Sayed's eligibility because of the time he lived in NY. The Dems took it to the Secretary of State who gave him the green light to run. But word is that the Michigan GOP will take it to court if he is nominated and try to knock him off the ballot.

[JNelson6563]

14. Yes, I know this is true.

Much like the GOP ignored Bernie during primary. You know that would change if he'd won primary.

[LisaM]

50. Yes, the Michigan GOP is probably rooting for him to win.

I think Gretchen Whitmer will prevail, but I'd really like it if there were no battle scars and people on the left ultimately refusing to vote for her.

[melman]

13. Let me get this straight

Are you actually saying he shouldn't run because he's a Muslim? Because that seems to be what you're saying.

[JNelson6563]

15. Governor may not be wisest first run.

Michigan is much redder than is believed, even after 2016. Very rural, lots of ammosexuals hugging their bible out in the barn that's decked out w/confederate flag.

It would be helpful if there was a broader base of support established from previous elected office. They are putting too much stock in Bernie's primary win here. There are not enough of those supporters in existence any more, if there ever was.

Believe me, I've lived in the great WHITE north since 1988. I've found a tiny picket of blue but all surrounding area is filled w/people who will not be impressed with his main claim to fame, medical director of Detroit (there is one main reason that city is widely considered a chamber of horrors up here, would you like to guess what that might be?)

A longer term name recognition effort would be helpful, back to previous electoral experience missing. I know MI and this guy doesn't stand a chance *in this race*. I believe it could be done he could be the one to do it. Sadly it's been done wrong so it will fail.

[Hortensis]

12. Ocasio's Republican opponent can't get in the news

even with all the help she's offering. Just checked. Wherever Anthony Pappas is tonight, NY 14 is so solidly blue that Ocasio can spare all this time away from the district she will be responsible for representing.

As Vox put it: "Who are the Republicans? For completists: economics professor Anthony Pappas. He will not be the next Congress member from the New York 14th."

So, Vox says I'm a completist. So apparently were all those in the 14th who were responsible enough to learn who Ocasio was before they woke up and discovered she was their nominee, even if they didn't "complete" themselves to the polls.

[oberliner]

20. Good lesson for our side

Take every race seriously - you never know what opportunities may emerge.

[oberliner]

18. That primary is going to be interesting

Gretchen Whitmer seems like the most likely primary winner, but anything can happen.

[Snotcicles]

19. Abdul is a good Democrat with great ideas. I've spoken with him twice. He is getting my vote. nt

[disillusioned73]

105. I've heard him on various interviews..

very impressive, I'm rooting for him from PA..

[lapucelle]

21. While El-Sayed is (of course) not a Brand New Congress candidate

AOC is. Unless Brand New Congress has changed its business model, there are questions as to how much autonomy a BNC candidate actually has, even in their own campaign.

According to BNC's archived FAQ page:

How much say in the campaign will candidates have?

BNC candidates will make remarkably few unilateral decisions about how to staff or run their campaign. In fact, they will make almost no decisions about their campaign. The one exception is their own personal stump speech and the way that they communicate the BNC platform to their district, which they will work on personally with BNC staff.

To be a BNC candidate, they have to believe that being a team player is their best chance of winning, and that their team is the BNC, not their own collection of friends, family and other advisors. This model of campaigning is a complete departure from the way American party politics has worked for a century and is much more similar to European parliamentary party politics. The key to making this work is to find candidates who are enthusiastic about this model, rather than finding activists who are opposed to it and trying to convince them. Running the campaign this way is important in light of the practical experience of challengers tending to be terrible at running their own campaigns. We want candidates who will be great leaders of their people, not great Congressional campaign managers.

Read more at the FAQ tab here_
https://web.archive.org/web/20160715060628/http://brandnewcongress.org/home

[George II]

25. Yet another campaign out in the midwest - supporting the male against the frontrunning female.

I wonder who is paying for these campaign trips outside her district?

[bigtree]

30. I am

...I just donated.

Not only are most of her opponents advantaged by big money, they're also advantaged by the benefits of incumbency.

But you go on pretending like this big bad woman is threatening the party by participating in grass roots advocacy along with her supporters.

Go on and make like it's some crime for these freshman Democratic candidates - many of them women and minorities - to band together and support each others' races.

I know their opposition would be satisfied if they were in the shadows without their chorus of voices in support of each other. They'd like the millions of dollars in corporate, PAC contributions to dominate. They'd like to believe that all of the influence they'd garnered during their term in office should make a challenge insurmountable. And it normally does make the day.

That's why all of this manufactured hysteria here over these Democratic candidates banding together to support each others campaigns is little more than campaigning against our own party.

It's not opposition I'm seeing over issues and qualifications. That's not the stuff of paragraph posts. This is an attack on their right to run and challenge the, dare I say, status quo. It's a despicable effort.

[NCTraveler]

36. This is shady as fuck.

Gretchen Whitmer is doing exactly what we expect(for the most part) and is being attacked.

You are also wrong. Whitmer is not running as an incumbent Governor. She has no attachment to the seat. Are we now simply calling people who learn and grow to be establishment and incumbent no matter what seat they hold?

You really highlight how shady Ocasio is being.

You didn't mention this establishment incumbent at all. Because it is one hundred percent about the individual and not the collective. It's dripping from every word you wrote and omitted.

And you topped it of with the really shady "status quo" line. Please go a little deeper into that completely empty and Sarandonesque phrase. Define Whitmer, Cobbs and Thanedar as incumbent, establishment and the status quo?

I guess your first move will have to be to read who is actually running.

[bigtree]

38. I'll tell you what's shady as fuck

...stirring up resentment against these Democratic candidates based on the mere fact that they dared challenge someone's choice for the nomination.

No shit, Whitmer isn't one of the incumbencies. That makes MY point. What the hell is wrong with someone having the temerity (according to some here) to compete alongside her?

Just because you think the other person is a better choice?? That's supposed to be the standard for participating? Since when?

Isn't she prepared to compete for the seat? What the fuck happened to respect for the process of elections? Where is her band of support? That's not her opponent's responsibility.

What the hell is the primary for, if not for people who feel they'll be a better legislator and choose to COMPETE for the chance to face the republican challenger.

Btw, Sarandon isn't an influence for ANYTHING I say or do, so you can put that little slur back in your personal attack bag. 'Status quo,' accurately describes sitting legislators. I think many forget that these sitting legislators were once outsiders looking to shake up the status quo.

Trying to demonize that, or worse, put 'establishment' in my mouth like I'd actually said it; throw it out there because it's one of the flashpoint words Sanders and supporters used, I guess to elicit some sort of resentment toward me personally; just despicable, considering I opposed EVERY errant incantation of that word used against Hillary and the Democratic party during the campaign. You were here. You know better.

[sheshe2]

89. Well turn that around, okay?

bigtree (71,155 posts)

38. I'll tell you what's shady as fuck

...stirring up resentment against these Democratic candidates based on the mere fact that they dared challenge someone's choice for the nomination

.

hmm. yup. so why are sanders and Ortiz doing just that. Ya know like stirring up resentment? Hmmm? They are challenging someone's ELSES choice. They are flying across the country to a state they do not live in and challenge this states choice.


You seem to want it both ways.

Just because you think the other person is a better choice?? That's supposed to be the standard for participating? Since when?

This comment, just turn it around. Just because THEY think the other person is a better choice?? That's supposed to be the standard for participating? Since when?

[George II]

41. If "establishment" and "status quo" wins elections, I want "establishment andstatus quo" candidates.

[bigtree]

43. politics isn't a static enterprise

...many long-serving and well-regarded legislators today were upstarts at the beginning of their political careers.

Recall Adam Clayton Powell's well-heeled and established seat (a political giant in his career), won out from under him by a young upstart named Charlie Rangel.

I'd trust voters to sort all of that out.

[George II]

45. Not a very good example - Powell was his own worst enemy and his last years in office....

....were rife with scandals.

[bigtree]

47. it's an example many can identify with

...many good candidates run in our primaries and lose.

Competition in our primary works to focus issues and commit candidates in ways they might not have been compelled to. It can also have the effect of introducing issues which have been neglected or ignored.

Our party's voters are the arbiters of the efficacy of competition. I'd actually be very surprised to hear a candidate complain like this about competition. If they're 'stronger' then there shouldn't be any issue at all for them.

That make this effort to draw resentment to these Democratic freshman candidates for daring to challenge somebody elses choice for nominee so vexing. It's really not about any actual threat to candidate or party, but appears to be directed at Bernie Sanders and his supporters.

Numerous posts bring up Sarandon or Sanders in rebuttal to me, as if I need to hold some affinity for them to make a case for these candidates.

What's the actual threat here, again?

[joshcryer]

67. Anyone who *didn't* campaign for Sanders is "establishment."

That's the litmus test. Every single one of these Our Revolution candidates either worked on Sanders' campaign or loudly supported it. Every. Single. One.

[George II]

44. "many of them women and minorities"

Kansas 3rd Congressional District - supporting a white male against a Native American female
Kansas 4th Congressional District - supporting a white male against a white female
Michigan Governor - supporting a male against a female

Perhaps she should be spending more time in her own district campaigning and studying up on Israeli-Palestinian relations and history.

[bigtree]

48. hell, you're sticking your nose in it, why can't she?

...why should she be barred from supporting those who supported her own campaign effort?

That's the issue here. AOC is joining together with other like-minded Democratic candidates in an effort to support and advance each others campaigns. There's nothing at all wrong with that.

Funny how the most attention their effort has gotten has been from these reflexive criticisms in opposition to AOC.

BTW in Kansas, Bernie's candidate of choice (his former senior staffer) is running against a field that includes the native American candidate, not technically or even materially 'running against her' but actively seeking the nomination like the rest of the field of four or five major candidates.

Hilarious trying to make this look like a conspiracy... hilarious until you realize these criticisms are almost exclusively about their decision to run against candidates you prefer.

[joshcryer]

68. I got into a big fight with people on Twitter over Sharice Davids getting Emily's List donations.

Apparently that was enough to tie her to "establishment."

Every candidate in that race shares the exact same position on everything, all for a $15 minimum wage, all for medicare for all, all for free college tuition. Welder got the Our Revolution endorsement because he worked with Sanders. That's it.

[redgreenandblue]

98. Abdul El-Sayed is Muslim. How convenient for you to leave that out.

In Michigan she is supporting the minority candidate over the white candidate.

But none of that matters, because "identity politics" only counts when its the right people....

[vi5]

51. It really is pathetic on here....

...and in this same thread she's being insulted and lambasted by someone because she's supporting a muslim (no literally that is what is being said) and another because she is not supporting minority candidates.

Funny how it can be both of those things in the exact same race, isn't it.

I gave a lot of folks on here the benefit of the doubt with their constant anti-Bernie obsession because it was true that he was not a registered Democrat. I took them at their word that this was the only reason and that if people wanted to make the changes Bernie was talking about then they should do it from within the Democratic party through the proper system of primaries.

Then AOC came along, and won through the proper system of primaries, running as a Democrat within the party.

Then there were still complaints and smears and anger. And then the excuse was that "She's campaigning against incumbents!!!!!"

And here we have a race that she is helping in, with no incumbent whatsoever, but people are still fucking complaining.

The amount of people on here who literally seem to be saying outright that we should pretty much just let the party leaders and establishment dems and consultants choose all our candidates for us (because yeah, their fucking track records are just so stellar) is just as frightening to me as everything else going on right now.

[bigtree]

54. my record has been in solid support of the party when it counted

...I'm an institutionalist and I'm bullish on the Democratic party. Sometimes I wear that on my sleeve, most times not.

I'm also a former liberal, convinced of the progressive cause, now identifying as a progressive in my views, and a Democrat at election time.

I don't agree that establishment is a dirty word, and I'd likely vote for the incumbent, more often than not, over upstarts looking to upend my choice.

None of that support for party or incumbent would justify hysteria and invective directed at these unquestionably qualified Democratic candidates for daring oppose my choice. I'd get a little nervous, perhaps, then I'd get busy defending my choice in the primary.

What's unspoken by each and every one of these critics is that the candidates' ultimate relevance in the primary lies with the support they get from actual voters. That makes the outrage over these progressives running foolish and self-defeating. Defeating, that is, if those supporters are to be expected to flock to the polls in November after being told their candidate was the incarnate of evil.

I was a Sanders OPPONENT during the election. I scorned the notion that his campaign was a 'revolution,' or that he was a legitimate voice to criticize the Democratic party's established members for their longevity in office. I still hold those views.

I can also legitimately hold the view that his and others' progressive challenges can be good for the party. From where I sit, there's still room for our party to grow.

"We're just fine, leave us alone," isn't the best message to project to a restless electorate looking outside of the party for representation.

"We're listening, and we support you," has more resonance and durability, in my view.

[disillusioned73]

106. Well said..

& needs to be said a lot more...

[redgreenandblue]

97. You supporting the white candidate against the minority. nt

[Wounded Bear]

33. My, my, isn't she busy? nt

[Yavin4]

40. Even though I may disagree, I'm damn glad that Alexandria is doing this

Democrats need to be challenged from the left. The party has lost over 1000 seats and an election to Trump. Leadership has grown stale and needs to be challenged.

[bigtree]

42. and here's the thing

...most of the effect of challengers is to keep legislators focused on the issues people care about and are important to their lives and livelihoods. It's an uphill effort to win.

Nothing political happens in a vacuum of indifference, or, regrettably, in a halo of trust. Power doesn't concede without a struggle, and I'm glad these Democratic legislators have found common interest to band together to support each others' campaigns against entrenched and organized resistance.

Opposition to AOC and friends is a smokescreen. They'd have us believe that these freshman candidates are a threat. To what? It appears the threat is a pretty standard one. Someone's candidate might be challenged, and may lose. It's a longshot for these newcomers, but you never know.

From the histrionics here, you'd think their organization is some political dynamo, given all of the attention. I think nothing focused that opposition against these upstart Democrats like AOC's victory over the incumbent Crowley. Figure that.

[Kaleva]

46. Whitmer has my vote.

I don't have anything against El-stayed but I prefer a candidate who has a good chance of winning in the general.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

52. Does AOC have a lock on her November victory?

Is she in a district where the Republican candidate is either non-existent or has zero chance of winning?

She must be confident, in order to travel around campaigning in other districts.

AOC, welcome to Michigan. This bozo's absentee ballot has already been cast for Whitmer. Any of the Dems would be better than Lt Gov Calley or Atty Gen Shuette (the two most likely Rep candidates).

[JustAnotherGen]

55. When all is said and done

It will be interesting to see where her candidates wind up.

She's nuts to take her eyes off of her own prize though. . .

Last I heard - Crowley is still on the WPP line. He's refusing to register to vote in VA (which would be sneaky), take a nomination in a place he doesn't live, commit a crime, or die.

So as of today - she's in a 3 way race.

[Snotcicles]

56. Shit like that is why the party is hemorrhaging members. nt

[JustAnotherGen]

57. Not bleeding in NJ at all!

7th District has seen a dramatic increase in Registered Democrats . . . we'll have more results on August 2nd. My precinct in my tiny borough I've flipped 4 indies and 7 Republicans. That's just me - not my volunteers.

If you don't want our party in your district to bleed - call your local precinct Committee member and find out how you can help.

I believe we have been so effective - that Leonard Lance is done. He has his chance.

But - there are grunts like me - even with a broken foot and major surgery in March - who've been out there on crutches and a knee bike.

No pain no gain.

[SunSeeker]

61. Thank you!

[George II]

72. .

[Cha]

77. First look: Dems crush GOP in party registration

Why it matters, from Rhodes Cook: "The Democrats approach this fall’s midterm elections with an advantage in one key aspect of the political process — their strength in states where voters register by party."

https://www.axios.com/democrats-crush-republican-party-registration-2018-midterms-872f7ad2-7a3b-4f7c-97b0-8070448e2df4.html

Gen

[JustAnotherGen]

100. Registered Voters by Party

From your link:

40% of all voters in party registration states are Democrats, 29% are Republicans, and 28% are independents.

In 19 states (plus D.C.) there are more registered Democrats; in the remaining 12 there are more registered Republicans.

This can make all the difference. A quick look back to 2016 shows Trump won 11 of those 12 states with more Republican registered voters.

[Cha]

108. Thanks Gen!

[Jamaal510]

93. +1

[sheshe2]

69. What?

Snotcicles

56. Shit like that is why the party is hemorrhaging members. nt

What shit are you speaking of?

[Cha]

76. This KNOCKS your unfounded pronouncement right OUT OF the WATER

First look: Dems crush GOP in party registration

Why it matters, from Rhodes Cook: "The Democrats approach this fall’s midterm elections with an advantage in one key aspect of the political process — their strength in states where voters register by party."

https://www.axios.com/democrats-crush-republican-party-registration-2018-midterms-872f7ad2-7a3b-4f7c-97b0-8070448e2df4.html

[George II]

70. Crowley has been a lifelong resident of Queens, and is currently Chair of the Queens County...

...Democratic Party. I don't see why he should change his residence or voter registration.

[JustAnotherGen]

99. Me either

It would be highly unethical. It would be a cheater's action. And why would he commit a crime? He can't will himself to die.

We have heard from the media she is an insurgent candidate - this shouldn't matter (Crowley on another line).

She should keep hammering her district.

[JustAnotherGen]

102. Yep

She's going to need his help. The county chair can help with association endorsements.

I don't think it has occurred to her that Crowley has deep roots that she could leverage.

I *think* Nina Turner is a sister blister. If she were to lose in the GE she feeds Nina's Narrative. Nina has never served in a Federal Position. AOC needs to lend an ear to Crowley. He can help her AND pave the way for her in DC.

[EffieBlack]

60. She's getting out way over her skis

Someone needs to give her better advice.

[sheshe2]

71. Yup.

Yet you know where she is getting her advice. We have seen this before.

[H2O Man]

73. Good.

She's outstanding, and is adding a lot of much-needed excitement to our party!

[sheshe2]

90. Link?

[OilemFirchen]

81. What will happen when these OR / BNC candidates lose in their primaries?

Will their advocates and their followers help the winning "establishment status quo" candidate going into the GE? Will they endorse these candidates? Will they campaign for them?

Or will they, as is their wont, turn their backs on them, then vote third party or stay home?

[sheshe2]

91. Hmmm

Ummmhm...backs turned, yup.



Yet no clue how they will vote. I hope they do the right thing, I just don 't know anymore.

[kcr]

84. She's going to find out how much that brand "helps"

And how much of her win really was just a local fluke. El-Sayed is tanking badly. Even a guy who lost a research lab to foreclosure and endangered a bunch of animals in the process is beating him. She's also revealing how much of a lightweight she is in general lately.

[Gothmog]

134. I really like Whitsmer in this race

Link to tweet