I’m willing to be wrong, but those are still smaller contests than the Presidency, or even Senate.
America is mask-off racist and sexist and that’s not going away any time soon because younger, impressionable people are seeing this and seeing no consequences and copying it.
I think she’d be fine as CA Governor, honestly. If she wants to throw her hat in for 2028, okay, i guess, as long as there is a primary process this time.
Yes, and we’re gonna get one of those who will happily throw trans people under the bus, the way things are going. And seek out right wing votes at the expense of progressive voters… I am not okay with that, and I’m not the problem because of that. THEY are the problem - Newsome, Shapiro, Buttigege are all making anti-trans noises and I’m sick of that shit. Fuck them if you they can do the basic humane thing that we all deserve basic rights. Now, Harris sort of did the same, whatever bullshit they keep trying to push that it was trans people (or Palestinians, or whatever other marginalized people) who tanked her. It wasn’t. It was white democratic men who will not vote for a woman, doubly so a Black woman. It’s THAT faction that needs to get their hearts right and who are perfectly willing to fuck the rest of us over in order to ensure that they stay in power. This is not just a GOP problem, it’s a white man problem. 
Anyway… Walz-AOC 2028…
That gets you a progressive with a track record of progressive policies, that include protecting ALL OF US, who white dudes who can’t get their heads right about gender and race will vote for… And it puts AOC in a position to run later. Also… Gen X that isn’t a reactionary.
America has always had a ton of racism and sexism. I’m just not sure that pandering to it is how the left (or even center) wins elections. Look how desperate people are to stop Mamdani because of his obvious popular support. The left wins by inspiring people who want better – that can be white men but I think boring white men have become a handicap.
I agree with everything you said and I hope it doesn’t come across that I want marginalization to continue…I just don’t see the massive amount of non-voters getting off their humps for anything besides the brand-standard politician mark 1.0.
In addition to winning her Senate race she had earlier been elected the state’s Attorney General, and received 58% of the vote in CA in the last presidential race, so she definitely has a history of receiving a lot of votes here. And she’s undoubtedly got more name recognition right now than any of the other likely candidates, unless another major celebrity decides to run for it. Wouldn’t have been a shoe-in, but certainly viable.
I don’t think it’s the individuals that are the problem - it’s the policies that are alienating to non-voters. When your bog-standard white dude runs on a GOP light policies, which is essentially neo-liberalism and hate for some “other” group, that is what they’re doing. People voted for Trump because he offered something different (in tone at least) to voters, and they felt he was more authentic. The reason why Harris did well at first in the polls was because she and Walz came off as authentic and offering something different. Then Biden’s team got to work shaving off those edges. Harris became more Biden, but woman and Black, while Walz became “Coach”…
I don’t feel like you were pushing that, no, but the bog standard white dudes ARE doing that and we must reject that forcefully now, while offering an authentic alternative to the right wing nihilism that at least seems like it’s getting “something” done. I do think there is a problem with white male voters across the board, but I think than a candidate who is authentic rather than one who is bog standard can push progressive policies that speak to the needs of all of us…
She might not have been a shoe-in, but she would have been the odds on favorite. People have gotten this weird idea that she doesn’t have a good track record of winning elections. She won San Francisco DA running against the incumbent when she was basically a no-name former ADA. And then she handily won re-election. Then, as you pointed out, she was elected California AG, and was re-elected to that job pretty easily. Then she won a California Senate seat. She briefly threw her hat in the ring for President in 2020, but dropped out before the first primary. Then, of course, she won the Vice-Presidency. Arguably, the only election she has lost was this past November.
But not like wimmin are held to a different standard then mens or anything like that…
Hate to disagree, but it’s not the policies. Most voters, much less low-engagement voters, have no idea or interest in policy. If only! Progressives would stomp everybody if policies won elections.
Sanders lost badly.
I liked him - but he was a loser nationally. And definitely had problems with important segments of the Democratic base. POC in particular.
I’d argue it’s still about policy, but most people only engage with the end product. Trump was able to use a particular narrative about how his policies would improve the lives of his voters. Other than some very vague promises, he did not talk about the brasstacks of policy. Harris did much more of that, but never really found a way to sell it successfully.
So, yes, I think you’re correct about most voters not caring about policy, but Trump sold his policies none-the-less (on a massive bed of lies, of course). Harris did not, and also made vague statements to sell her policies that were not interesting and exciting to people who (frankly speaking) can’t spend time figuring out who to vote for and why…
So maybe it’s the lack of narrative that illustrate the end results of the policy that is the part that needs to be addressed. Bernie works because he knows how to communicate his preferred policy positions in a relatable way.
People keep forgetting that. Everyone keeps wanting to blame Clinton for stealing it and the DNC for putting their thumbs on the scales (which I think there is something to that, perhaps), but the reality is that he did have issues reaching Black voters…
FD Signifier did a video on this recently… turns out it was 2 videos…
Anyone else seen this? Maybe I missed it. Maybe a good resource for anyone in Georgia
According to an email obtained by Hell Gate, Ricky Sandler, the head of Eminence Capital, wants to kickstart a super PAC to take down the Democratic nominee and “improve the image of Eric Adams.”
Maybe he can get Trump to pardon him. Instead of just keeping him on a short leash.
Zohran didn’t win by relying on standard turnout patterns. We had to fundamentally transform the Democratic electorate.
I was part of a group of NYC-DSA members that applied lessons from our previous campaigns to design the “universe” of voters to talk to. Here’s how we won
In other words, the key is getting people who have not or do not vote…
That are part of your base.
Not chasing “swing voters”.
