Democrats hope for off-year House upset in Tennessee Maga stronghold
www.theguardian.com
Even a close second could be a bellwether of Republican loss of control of House of Representatives in midterms

Even a close second could be a bellwether of Republican loss of control of House of Representatives in midterms

Fresh off a wave of successes in November’s off-year elections, Democrats are angling for an audacious victory in a Republican-heavy Tennessee congressional district where an upset win could amount to a major blow against Donald Trump’s legislative agenda.

Voters on Tuesday will cast ballots in a special election to replace Mark Green, a Republican representing a middle Tennessee district who resigned from Congress in July. Drawn by the state’s Republican leaders to ensure its voters favored their party, the district last year backed Trump and Green by 22-point margins.

In normal times, the GOP nominee, Matt Van Epps, would be considered a shoo-in. But after Democrats stormed to victory in Virginia, New Jersey and elsewhere earlier this month – bringing with it evidence that voters who had backed the president were changing their minds – the party and its allies have poured money into the campaign of state representative Aftyn Behn, hoping to pull off what would amount to a coup.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
    361·
    1 day ago

    In normal times, the GOP nominee, Matt Van Epps, would be considered a shoo-in. But after Democrats stormed to victory in Virginia, New Jersey and elsewhere earlier this month – bringing with it evidence that voters who had backed the president were changing their minds – the party and its allies have poured money into the campaign of state representative Aftyn Behn, hoping to pull off what would amount to a coup.

    A big reason we’re making these gains, is the DNC spent a decade stealing donations from state parties via the “victory fund” and as soon as Martin took DNC chair, he started the biggest redistribution of funds from the DNC to state parties.

    Neoliberals were just not fighting in a lot of places, which is the only reason Republicans have the House.

    Not trying to downplay the gains we’ve made, just saying there’s a fundamental reason why, and it’s logical to keep expecting it to pay off not just here but in midterms too. Pretty much every state has been operating at campaign levels for 9 months now. We’re putting in a shit ton of groundwork already, while Republicans are gonna keep doing the 3-5 month mad dash before elections.