In Tuesday’s primaries, most of the candidates backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Democratic New York congressional candidate Alexandria Ocastia-Cortez lost, prompting celebratory rebukes of socialists from the Right. Republicans, though, should not be so quick to celebrate — establishment Democratic candidates, supported with robust funding and likely to draw enthusiastic support against Trump-backed candidates, pose a formidable threat in the November election.
In Michigan, both gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed and 11th Congressional District candidate Fayrouz Saad lost to establishment Democrats. In Missouri, Cori Bush lost to nine-term incumbent William Lacy Clay in the Democratic primary for the state’s 1st Congressional District.
Although socialist-leaning candidates did do well in already deeply Democratic races, like Ocasio-Cortez’s Bronx district or Rashida Tlaib’s victory in the Detroit area’s 13th Congressional District, they were unable to beat out establishment candidates in statewide races in Michigan or elsewhere.
As evidenced by razor-thin margins in Ohio’s special election, which is still too close to call in what was considered a Republican stronghold, Democrats are ready to put up a strong fight in the November midterm elections, and their establishment candidates have a shot at gaining ground over Trump-backed opponents.
In red states and districts, establishment Democrats facing Trump-endorsed Republicans may gain votes in educated but typically right-leaning suburbs and in areas like the Midwest that are feeling squeezed by Trump’s trade war. Moreover, these establishment candidates are likely to rally progressive voters in an anti-Trump push, even though Hillary Clinton was unable to do so in 2016.
Combined with strong funding and well-organized campaigns that benefit from more broad appeal than progressive slogans like “Abolish ICE,” Medicare for all, and a $15 minimum wage, Democrats may well be able to pull off victories in “Trump country.”
This means that Republicans will likely face a greater challenge in the November elections than they would have if progressive candidates had been on the ballot. Instead of cheering socialist losses, Republicans need to be prepared to organize on the ground and push back against Democrats if they want to keep control in Washington.
