Democrats betting on progressives to keep control of Senate

[JoeOtterbein]

Politico

Voters have opted for left-wing candidates in Wisconsin and Pennsylvannia, two of the pivotal contests that could determine whether Democrats retain their Senate majority.

By HOLLY OTTERBEIN

08/10/2022 04:30 AM EDT

PHILADELPHIA — In two of the most pivotal Senate races in the country, Democrats are placing their bets on progressives who have voiced support for Medicare for All, allied with Bernie Sanders and vowed to end the filibuster.

In Wisconsin, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes gained a clear path to the nomination on Tuesday after his top Democratic rivals dropped out and endorsed him in the final weeks of the race. In Pennsylvania, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman won the primary in a rout in May.

The rise of Barnes and Fetterman is an opportunity for the left wing of the party, which has often struggled to flip swing seats and instead found success in ousting Democratic incumbents in deep-blue areas. Both men have said they would be the 51st vote to pass ambitious liberal legislation that has been stymied by centrist Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), and both say they support eliminating the filibuster and passing a national law to make abortion legal.

“When they’re victorious, it will have such a huge impact for so many reasons,” said Maurice Mitchell, national director of the progressive Working Families Party. “Every week it becomes more and more plausible that the Democrats maintain governing majorities in both houses, and might even expand the governing majority in the Senate. That will mean that we get another bite at the apple of governing. It means that we will no longer be subject to the Sinema or the Manchin veto.”

snip

more at link

[Demsrule86]

1. I believe Fetterman will win easily. I do have concerns for Barnes...he is a good guy, but

will Wisconsin elect a progressive? I hope so. There is a tradition of electing progressives...but not for a long time...not since Feingold. I hope Barnes will in the end be like Fetterman and win this election. I loathe Ron Johnson. Perhaps Roe will help

[luv2fly]

3. The progressive Barnes got elected four years ago

As well as Sarah Godlewski and others around the state... progressives win here when people come out to vote.

[Demsrule86]

5. That is a good point. But consider it was a midterm and the president's party were GOP types.

[luv2fly]

2. Barnes doesn't strike me as particularly "left wing"

Politico labels him as such, but that does not make it so... I mean he's Tony's lieutenant, and Tony is Wisconsin's very own version of the calm, cool, and collected Joe Biden, going about his business and getting things done for all Wisconsinites, without the need for adulation and self-promotion.

Sure Barnes is a progressive, but if you've seen his commercials on television, he shares a story of how his mother helped instill his work ethic and his commitment to rebuilding the middle class, supporting family farms, and bringing manufacturing back to the state. Hardly "left-wing" issues, and the type of thing that resonates with Wisconsinites, particularly those rural folk who have been destroyed by factory farms. I suspect he'll wipe the floor with Ron Johnson, at least I sure as hell hope so and will do my part to make happen.

[Demsrule86]

4. I lived in Wisconsin at one point but it was years ago...so I am not familiar. I am studying

the situation because I love elections and this is such an important election. What you said is what my Wisconsin friends say...' don't believe the labels as the GOP always calls all Democrats socialists'...Thanks for the information. I want Wisconsin back! And Ron Johnson needs to go...a traitor and a liar.

[ismnotwasm]

6. *sigh*

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Well, I know who I'm voting for - our current Majority Leader!