Andrew Cuomo says progressive wave is 'not even a ripple' after primary win

[Scurrilous]

Governor discussed his vision of the Democrat party at a press conference on Friday, calling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s win ‘a fluke’

<snip>

"Democratic New York governor Andrew Cuomo has said the so-called insurgent progressive wave in his party is “not even a ripple”, arguing that it’s pragmatists like him who can get things done who are the true progressives.

Cuomo, a two-term Democratic incumbent, on Thursday defeated challenger Cynthia Nixon by a 30-point margin - turning back the latest attempt by a newcomer from the left to unseat a Democrat favored by the establishment.

The governor, viewed as a potential 2020 presidential contender, used a victory lap press conference on Friday to make a forceful case for his own vision of the party.

“I’m not a socialist. I’m not 25 years old … I’m not a newcomer,” he told reporters at his Manhattan office. “But I am a progressive. And I deliver progressive results.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/14/andrew-cuomo-new-york-progressive-democrats

[edhopper]

1. He is going to have to deal with

a Dem controlled Senate now. He better be progressive!

[R B Garr]

2. A 30-point margin in a high turnout race certainly gives

him credibility to make these observations.

[StuckInTexas]

3. Correlation does not equal causation

and vice versa. I would think the limited data available would probably lean more to the fact that his opponent was never seen as a serious candidate, making this less a vote about a progressive movement, and more about candidate viability.

[R B Garr]

6. That might match for a low turnout, but apparently

this was a decisively high turnout, indicating a high commitment to making sure voters got the candidate they wanted. In other previous NY primaries, there was a low turnout, so voters seemed determined to avoid those results. It does match what he’s saying.

[Blue_true]

9. Correct.

Look like voters were shocked by the earlier national level primary results in NY and were determined not to allow surprises to happen again.

Also, eliminating so many IDC Dems say those voters want democratic control of the state.

[Cha]

11. Nixon certainly blames high voter turnout on her loss.

Cynthia Nixon Campaign Blames 'Extremely High Turnout' for Election Loss to Andrew Cuomo

https://www.newsweek.com/cynthia-nixon-campaign-blames-extremely-high-turnout-election-loss-andrew-1120814

[R B Garr]

14. That is such a telling statement. Hoping for low turnout

doesn’t sound very progressive and is more an admission they have to catch a chance when voters are not paying attention during a primary.

[moondust]

4. Nixon received more votes

than Cuomo did in at least one of his previous primaries/elections per guest on MSNBC earlier.

[David__77]

5. If he's going to get progressive things done, then great.

...

[Power 2 the People]

7. +1

[msongs]

8. one might distrust this guy nt

[Blue_true]

10. He is the only Dem so far that was able to put a dent in the NRA.

Bernie didn't and won't do it, Kamala hasn't done it, gun control groups haven't been able to do it, Cuomo did.

[R B Garr]

13. +1, and his $15/hr minimum wage accomplishment, paid family leave

and marriage equality look pretty progressive as he stated in the article. New Yorkers sure wanted him in huge numbers.

[Blue_true]

15. Some people really talk up a progressive utopia, but get little done to make it happen.

Others build the pieces to that utopia and get called names by the talkers, who say that real change isn't happening fast enough.

[mvd]

12. There was one great thing

The IDC was broken up. Also, the Attorney General nominee isn't the worst choice. To me, "pragmatism" too often means giving Repukes too much of what they want and also giving up on ideas without fighting. Sometimes the Democrats have corporate motives for not fighting and other times they are just afraid to fight.

I am not a big Cuomo fan and would have voted for Nixon, but I will agree she had some flaws as a candidate.

[JHan]

16. The results, by neighborhood, are interesting:

Link to tweet

[Scurrilous]

18. Cuomo - King of the Bronx.

[JHan]

19. Yep. And Teachout had a good showing in Manhattan of all places.

[pecosbob]

17. Bottom line is that 6 of 8 IDC members were defeated in NY state primaries

Mama always used to say stupid is as stupid does...caucus with Republicans and you shall receive an ass-whipping in the polls this time around. I'd say it's time for blue dogs to lie low.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

20. I do not like the progressive-pragmatist dichotomy, whichever direction it comes from.

We are all Democrats who share the same goals. I am wary of anybody who wants to divide us.

[BeckyDem]

21. Charles Pierce: If you are a progressive, these are the results that matter. Turnout was robust all

all over the state; Nixon got more votes on Thursday than Cuomo did the last time he ran. Cuomo got shoved to the left on a number of issues and now he doesn't have the votes in Albany to walk those new positions back. If you want Andrew Cuomo defanged, and what sensible person doesn't, then this is the next best thing than beating him outright. To get anything done, he now has to deal with people he otherwise would have ignored. Despite what you might think from events in Washington, legislative power is still formidable with the right people who know how to use it.

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a23140580/new-york-primary-andrew-cuomo-idc/