- cross-posted to:
- politics@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- politics@lemmy.world
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.
Add another voice asking for sources, but if true, this is great. IMO, we need a strong 50 state strategy ala Howard Dean’s strategy from the mid to late 2000s. Abandoning that to focus on swing districts is a huge part of why we’re where we are at right now, and why so many Americans think Democrats don’t work for them.
We need to be doing this more. Obviously, we need to prioritise our spending, but if there’s a chance, like somebody’s only 2 points down next to an incumbent Trumper, throw some money their way and let’s see what sticks? Lots of people getting frustrated with the Shitgibbon and his merry band of miscreants. Maybe we can get some wins and put the screws to those shitheads.