Deep divisions between centrist Democrats and progressive members of the party nearly sunk an infrastructure bill that’s a key part of President Joe Biden’s agenda. And that intra-Democratic chasm is on vivid display in many 2022 Democratic primaries, including for an open Pennsylvania Senate seat.
The seat is a linchpin in Democrats’ efforts to broaden their razor-thin majority in the 50-50 chamber, which they hold due to Vice President Kamala Harris’s tiebreaking vote. Republican Sen. Pat Toomey is leaving the seat open after holding it for 12 years. Rep. Conor Lamb is presenting himself to voters in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary, and in the November 2022 general election if that goes well, as a relatively centrist alternative to extremes in both parties.
“If you want a Senator who runs as a Socialist, feeds the GOP attack ads, & didn’t help with infrastructure, I’M NOT YOUR GUY,” Lamb wrote in a Sunday night Twitter thread. “That’s not how you beat Republicans. I know because I’ve actually done it & will again.”
Lamb continued, “I’m a normal Democrat who supports jobs & wins elections.”
Lamb’s comments came about 48 hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrestled her reluctant liberal faction into voting to pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill, providing Biden with a desperately needed legislative victory. The $1.2 trillion measure passed the Senate on Aug. 10 and had been languishing in the House, where liberals had refused to help pass it unless a $1.75 trillion social welfare bill was approved along with it.
On Friday night, six House Democrats voted against the infrastructure bill, including some of the most progressive members of the House Democratic Caucus, such as Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Thirteen House Republicans backed the infrastructure bill, ensuring it cleared the House and got sent to Biden for his signature.
The nail-biter vote came days after Democrats took a drubbing in off-year elections, including a Republican victory in Virginia’s gubernatorial race and GOP gains in New Jersey, where Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy won reelection by just a thread — all while Biden’s approval ratings continued to sink.
REDISTRICTING SETS STAGE FOR LAWMAKER VS. LAWMAKER PRIMARIES IN AT LEAST TWO STATES
In Pennsylvania, there’s a crowded field of Democratic candidates trying to convince voters they are the best option to increase the party’s Senate majority. The Democratic primary field against Lamb includes Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, Montgomery County Commissioners Chairwoman Val Arkoosh, and state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta.
Ahead of the May 17 Democratic Senate primary, Fetterman has sought to stake out a place on the party’s left flank. The former Braddock, Pennsylvania, mayor routinely chides Democrats in Congress on Twitter for being insufficiently progressive.
Fetterman praised the passage of the infrastructure bill after Friday night’s vote. He argued that predominantly red rural Pennsylvania will benefit from the bill, for which Lamb voted.
Fetterman lost a 2016 Democratic Senate primary bid, while Lamb has an unblemished electoral record. A graduate
of the University of Pennsylvania and its law school, Marine Corps judge advocate, and federal prosecutor in Pittsburgh, Lamb first came to Congress in a 2018 special election. Lamb won a special election in a western Pennsylvania district long held by Republicans, which had also voted for former President Donald Trump. Later that year, running in a different seat due to court-mandated redistricting, Lamb beat a sitting Republican congressman. And in 2020, Lamb defeated Republican Sean Parnell, an Army veteran and Trump supporter.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
It’s possible Lamb and Parnell will square off again for Senate in 2022, should each win their parties’ nominations. Parnell, however, has of late been hit with a wave of bad publicity, and other Republicans are eyeing the seat. Parnell’s estranged wife recently testified under oath during divorce and custody proceedings that she endured abusive behavior from Parnell, allegations he denied.
