Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Democratic caucus, just lost his primary to a young socialist whom he outspent 18-to-one.
If you can think and remember back a bit, this evening comes as just as much of a surprise as House Republican Leader Eric Cantor’s shocking loss in June 2014, which in similar fashion came as a complete surprise to everyone. Until the day he lost, Cantor had been considered a shoo-in as John Boehner’s replacement.
Cantor’s loss seemed like a disaster for top Republicans at the time it happened, but it presaged a strong Republican performance in the 2014 election and a more conservative Republican Party. The jury is out on whether Bernie Sanders’ socialism will become a rallying cry similar to the one that carried conservative Tea Partiers to their 2010 and 2014 victories.
