Sleepwalking is the best word for it. The Republican primary seemed all but decided until Rick Jackson joined the race. Granted, he had $80 million of his own money to drop, but his willingness to fight was undeniable. Fight is exactly what people have been begging from the Democratic party for the last year and a half. Every Democrat-leaning Atlantan I have spoken to has viewed this election with a shrug since the onset. The level of resignation around Bottoms' name recognition was astounding - I was asked multiple times why I would bother voting in an already decided primary. Bottoms does not have a good reputation in Atlanta and she will likely struggle to sway swing voters with the stink of the Biden era hanging over her. And yet, her opposition cowered at the prospect of attacking her and promoting themselves as viable alternative. The Democratic primary was another example of candidates bowing to civility and the status quo and not giving the electorate the fight they desperately crave from their elected officials.
Seems like we’ve heard this story before…a black women running in a race where the DNC and online political analysts feel like the electorate is smart enough to elect the right candidate. She put her name in the ring, campaigned, and won. If the DNC is worried about the general election give her the money she will need to win.
“'The strongest primary candidate is not necessarily the strongest general candidate,' lamented state Rep. Michelle Au, who supported Duncan, the former Republican, in the primary."
Out of all of the people that Lauren could quote, she picks the person who supported a former Republican. How typically Bulwarkian of her.
Try to recall that most of the founders of The Bulwark are Never-Trump Republicans. The Bulwark does not need a 'circular firing squad" angling for progressive purity. Win the House and Senate first; then argue later.
I voted for Michael Thurmond yesterday - incredibly competent, has been Mr Fixit for both Dekalb schools and the county government. But he’s 71 now and this is not the environment for an elder statesman to win; he was lurking, assuming he would make a runoff, but won’t get the chance.
Nice job by Jason Esteves in second; could be compared to Carter’s first run for governor in 1966.
As Dems cheer on Trump's primary wins with crazy candidates who will struggle in the general, it is the Democratic primary voters who need to think before they click. Texans did a good job of this in their Senate primary, giving Talarico a solid win so that he could hit the ground running (which he has). Winning in November in a 55-60% red state will require a coalition and excellent authentic messaging by candidates who are not DNC darlings. I never heard a single word about the Texas Democratic leadership in that primary. It was the two candidates, their social media, appearances, and advertising, and the voters of Texas. In parliamentary nations, the governing coalitions happen after the elections. Our system requires that the coalition-building comes before the primaries!
Good overview. I live in Atlanta and my take is that KLB will have an extremely tough time getting elected as Gov, but I also think that Mike Collins will have a very tough time beating Ossoff. He and Warnock have been solid and really made big efforts to improve healthcare and other quality of life issues for people living in this state. Collins is a MAGA bootlicker in the mold of David Perdue and focuses on culture wars. Republicans control the state, but not our two Senators. That seems crazy, but they are both doing a good job. Jen Jordan would have made a very good Supreme Court justice, but it did not happen.
Did anyone handle the Covid pandemic well? As far as running against election denier...bring it on...tie him to Trump's slush fund...and ask why he is for protecting pedos...
What does it mean to "give the electorate what it wants"? Which electorate? What segment of society or poll result does one use to describe "the electorate"? What does one consider the electorate in a county election? Is that different from the electorate in a state election? What is the electorate in a US Presidential election? Are they all the same electorates? Granted, politicians are caught in a fraught situation. How can they represent their local constituents' interests, feelings and ambitions while also considering the interests of the entire state or the nation? Which constituency should be supreme? Is a politician's display of cohesion dependent upon philosophy, or ethics, or rational thought that may be different from those of his constituents, or is he merely a mirror reflecting the feelings of those he represents, however noble or base their feelings may be? A politician's job is destined to be difficult. It is unfortunate for the rest of the populace when they view their decisions as simple and pre-ordained.
Funny. Republicans elect criminals, rapists, pedophiles and crooks and laugh at suckering so many people into voting for them because they can just hate trans people and win. dems fret about a slight breeze messing up a hair do, or hairpiece. Fight like GOP and kick their butts. Stop with this pearl clutching, and worrying about every word spoken and every deed done. No wonder dems lose. It becomes nauseating. All dems have to do is say kiss my ass, I do not support pedophiles as my opponent does. Take it to the rim and stop dribbling!
Very sad that so many people don’t realize the value of democracy and the danger that it is in, and refuse to use their heads. They would rather feel good than do good, and it could result in the end of our democracy and freedom.
So, we are confident that a candidate who got 18% of the primary and who almost nobody knows about can win the actual general election but someone who can get 56% may not win. Maybe they should have selected the former republican.
She will not win for governor, female politicians have a much bigger hurdle to overcome and especially with Spanberger disappointing everybody. The only Georgia Senator who has a giant buzz is awesome Ossoff.
“A missed opportunity to inform voters”. That should be the Democratic party’s byline. Everyone has been screaming at them to message, and message hard, but no one is listening. As to Covid response being a factor in electability, if there is anything 2024 taught us, is that American voters are amnesiac.
I’m a GA Democrat. Keisha Lance Bottoms & Geoff Duncan were the only two Democratic candidates for governor with name recognition. Statewide office is dominated by Republicans. It is practically a miracle that we have two Democratic senators. Every statewide race is an uphill battle for Democrats. That would be true no matter who won the nomination. I did not vote for Lance Bottoms, but I will do everything I can to support her now.
The messaging for the two candidates for Supreme Court were unified. The difference in vote tallies probably has to do with the State Ethics Panel making noise and laying it more at Jordan’s feet because of her past success and popularity as the state senator who broke the super majority when she was seated after winning a special election in 2017. She is known in the state and back in 2022 she ran for Atty General and garnered the most votes, statewide, of all the Dems running that year. She’s a star and they’re scared of her.
Sleepwalking is the best word for it. The Republican primary seemed all but decided until Rick Jackson joined the race. Granted, he had $80 million of his own money to drop, but his willingness to fight was undeniable. Fight is exactly what people have been begging from the Democratic party for the last year and a half. Every Democrat-leaning Atlantan I have spoken to has viewed this election with a shrug since the onset. The level of resignation around Bottoms' name recognition was astounding - I was asked multiple times why I would bother voting in an already decided primary. Bottoms does not have a good reputation in Atlanta and she will likely struggle to sway swing voters with the stink of the Biden era hanging over her. And yet, her opposition cowered at the prospect of attacking her and promoting themselves as viable alternative. The Democratic primary was another example of candidates bowing to civility and the status quo and not giving the electorate the fight they desperately crave from their elected officials.
Seems like we’ve heard this story before…a black women running in a race where the DNC and online political analysts feel like the electorate is smart enough to elect the right candidate. She put her name in the ring, campaigned, and won. If the DNC is worried about the general election give her the money she will need to win.
“'The strongest primary candidate is not necessarily the strongest general candidate,' lamented state Rep. Michelle Au, who supported Duncan, the former Republican, in the primary."
Out of all of the people that Lauren could quote, she picks the person who supported a former Republican. How typically Bulwarkian of her.
Try to recall that most of the founders of The Bulwark are Never-Trump Republicans. The Bulwark does not need a 'circular firing squad" angling for progressive purity. Win the House and Senate first; then argue later.
I voted for Michael Thurmond yesterday - incredibly competent, has been Mr Fixit for both Dekalb schools and the county government. But he’s 71 now and this is not the environment for an elder statesman to win; he was lurking, assuming he would make a runoff, but won’t get the chance.
Nice job by Jason Esteves in second; could be compared to Carter’s first run for governor in 1966.
As Dems cheer on Trump's primary wins with crazy candidates who will struggle in the general, it is the Democratic primary voters who need to think before they click. Texans did a good job of this in their Senate primary, giving Talarico a solid win so that he could hit the ground running (which he has). Winning in November in a 55-60% red state will require a coalition and excellent authentic messaging by candidates who are not DNC darlings. I never heard a single word about the Texas Democratic leadership in that primary. It was the two candidates, their social media, appearances, and advertising, and the voters of Texas. In parliamentary nations, the governing coalitions happen after the elections. Our system requires that the coalition-building comes before the primaries!
Good overview. I live in Atlanta and my take is that KLB will have an extremely tough time getting elected as Gov, but I also think that Mike Collins will have a very tough time beating Ossoff. He and Warnock have been solid and really made big efforts to improve healthcare and other quality of life issues for people living in this state. Collins is a MAGA bootlicker in the mold of David Perdue and focuses on culture wars. Republicans control the state, but not our two Senators. That seems crazy, but they are both doing a good job. Jen Jordan would have made a very good Supreme Court justice, but it did not happen.
Did anyone handle the Covid pandemic well? As far as running against election denier...bring it on...tie him to Trump's slush fund...and ask why he is for protecting pedos...
What does it mean to "give the electorate what it wants"? Which electorate? What segment of society or poll result does one use to describe "the electorate"? What does one consider the electorate in a county election? Is that different from the electorate in a state election? What is the electorate in a US Presidential election? Are they all the same electorates? Granted, politicians are caught in a fraught situation. How can they represent their local constituents' interests, feelings and ambitions while also considering the interests of the entire state or the nation? Which constituency should be supreme? Is a politician's display of cohesion dependent upon philosophy, or ethics, or rational thought that may be different from those of his constituents, or is he merely a mirror reflecting the feelings of those he represents, however noble or base their feelings may be? A politician's job is destined to be difficult. It is unfortunate for the rest of the populace when they view their decisions as simple and pre-ordained.
Funny. Republicans elect criminals, rapists, pedophiles and crooks and laugh at suckering so many people into voting for them because they can just hate trans people and win. dems fret about a slight breeze messing up a hair do, or hairpiece. Fight like GOP and kick their butts. Stop with this pearl clutching, and worrying about every word spoken and every deed done. No wonder dems lose. It becomes nauseating. All dems have to do is say kiss my ass, I do not support pedophiles as my opponent does. Take it to the rim and stop dribbling!
Very sad that so many people don’t realize the value of democracy and the danger that it is in, and refuse to use their heads. They would rather feel good than do good, and it could result in the end of our democracy and freedom.
So, we are confident that a candidate who got 18% of the primary and who almost nobody knows about can win the actual general election but someone who can get 56% may not win. Maybe they should have selected the former republican.
Democrats always shooting themselves in the foot. Did we not forget the whole Stacey Abraham debacle .
She will not win for governor, female politicians have a much bigger hurdle to overcome and especially with Spanberger disappointing everybody. The only Georgia Senator who has a giant buzz is awesome Ossoff.
“A missed opportunity to inform voters”. That should be the Democratic party’s byline. Everyone has been screaming at them to message, and message hard, but no one is listening. As to Covid response being a factor in electability, if there is anything 2024 taught us, is that American voters are amnesiac.
I’m a GA Democrat. Keisha Lance Bottoms & Geoff Duncan were the only two Democratic candidates for governor with name recognition. Statewide office is dominated by Republicans. It is practically a miracle that we have two Democratic senators. Every statewide race is an uphill battle for Democrats. That would be true no matter who won the nomination. I did not vote for Lance Bottoms, but I will do everything I can to support her now.
The messaging for the two candidates for Supreme Court were unified. The difference in vote tallies probably has to do with the State Ethics Panel making noise and laying it more at Jordan’s feet because of her past success and popularity as the state senator who broke the super majority when she was seated after winning a special election in 2017. She is known in the state and back in 2022 she ran for Atty General and garnered the most votes, statewide, of all the Dems running that year. She’s a star and they’re scared of her.
https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-finds-georgia-supreme-court-candidates-forced-to-self-censor-speech/