I hadn’t heard about Charlie Dent and Dave Reichert retiring until I came across that article. But damn that is interesting that 2 more Repubs have said they’re giving up because they just can’t work with the idiots running the GOP. It seems like all the purity test/ partisan anger is getting to the point where everybody but the guy in the mirror is RINO. This is going to be a hell of a spectacle the next few years.
I like how they said that they were in the “governing wing” of the GOP, and that they could not do their jobs anymore. Reading between the lines, they’re basically saying that the GOP is unable to govern anymore, as they are filled with politicians who don’t know how to do that - they only know obstructionism.
Yeah, I saw that. Insomuch as it strengthens the (D) chances, it’s higher risk because an ® result would be a less moderate ®, and not just less moderate but likely from the Trump wing. As (D) as I am in principle, I respect many moderate Republicans and hate the fact that the swings of the last 20 years have shoved out moderates on both sides. Well, hopefully the result will be the return of some moderate Dems in the swing districts, even if they don’t take the House.
Serious question, what dems have been primaried by a less moderate?
Damn - don’t want to get my hopes up, but that could be very interesting - especially if we saw an increasing trend.
As folk said, on one hand, it is better to have moderate Repubs than teabaggers. So we’ll really need to see what happens to the extreme right candidates in solid red or competitive districts.
Makes you wonder that they see quitting as preferable to trying to stick it out and improve things from within. Must really stink to be a somewhat reasonable, well-intentioned Repub in Congress these days.
In Reichert’s WA district, a teabagger would have problems. I think the Dems might be able to take it, although Dino Rossi is rumored to be considering throwing his hat into the ring.
Only one I can think of was Alan Grayson who lost to Patrick Murphy in the primaries.
I was thinking of the Blue Dog dems that got swung out by republicans 2010 and later. It will be interesting to see if the the dem moderates get through primaries going forward though, that’s the major struggle on their side right now.
Not quite what you’re asking, but Hillary won the primary against Sanders 17 million to 13 million.
Arlen Specter and Joe Lieberman? Didn’t end well in either case, though.
Generally, ‘being primaried’ implies you already hold the office, are seeking re-election, and lose in the primary. See Eric Cantor. It can also be used just in reference to the primary challenge, but still in the context where you already hold the office.
Bum…Bum…Bum, another one bites the dust.
Bob Corker is thinking about retiring…
“As far as what am I going to do in the future, I’m still contemplating the future. It’s a tremendous privilege to do what I do, and to weigh in on the big issues. … But I have not decided what I’m going to do in the future.”
I doubt the Democrats have much chance in Tennessee even if Corker retires. Their chances there would be slightly higher than a state like Idaho or something, but still, Tennessee is awfully red these days.
Al Gore’s greatest legacy, as far as I’m concerned, was to turn TN solidly R. He was, I believe, the last Democrat to win a Senate election in Tennessee. It has also not voted for a Democrat for President since he lost the 2000 race. Mr. Gore, I salute you (with all the vigor that John Kerry ever managed to muster).
Also saluting: TN residents, given their 41st/50 ranking for poverty, 40th/50 ranking for inequality, 40th/50 ranking for income, 39th/50 ranking by high school graduation rates, and 36/50 rating for unemployment. Few more years of Republican senators and the floor’s the limit for Tennessee! (Except for Mississippi)
Yesterday, the Democrats won a state legislative seat in Oklahoma, 60-40, which went to Trump by 21 points last year:
It’s not the only state seat Democrats have turned in the last few months. The Democrats have flipped six so far nationwide since the 2016 election, while Republicans have not flipped a single one.
Also 7th highest percentage of citizens on SS disability!
Yep, the gubmint’s the problem (except for when they’re cutting me a check!)
Supposedly, Bannon is intending to attack all of the Republican legislators who fought against him, and try to promote people who are more crazy in those regions.
I think he’s failing to appreciate that negative campaigns are going to dirty everyone involved, so the Republican - whoever it might be - that makes it through the primaries (or whatever system is used to select congressmen) is going to come into the main fight pre-bloodied.
With Trump trying to make deals with Democrats, I think he’s failing to appreciate that for all they might buddy up to him for the next year and a half, the instant the House turns Democratic is the instant every investigation gets turned up to eleven. They’re only going to love the chance to turn on him in 2018, the more deeply he becomes trusting of them.
When you have to drill all the way down into state legislature seats to find your glimmer of hope, I don’t know what more needs to be said on the matter. This article from Politico today seems relevant: