A stark reality has emerged as both major political parties struggle to navigate the treacherous terrain of midterm campaigning. The initial game plans have been upended by self-inflicted wounds and messy missteps that have complicated their paths to victory.
President Donald Trump's unrelenting focus on border security, an economy finally shaking off years of high inflation, and purging his party of dissent has disrupted the global flow of oil, spiking prices at the pump. His visit to Georgia will likely center around new investment accounts for children, but what he'll actually discuss remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, Democrats are embroiled in a civil war between moderates and progressives, as democratic socialists successfully oust incumbents in places like New York and Denver. Some of their candidates have imploded in spectacular fashion, jeopardizing races that the party had expected to win.
The drama has reached existential levels as each party faces a moment of reckoning. Democrats remain shaken by Trump's reelection and are desperately searching for a path back to power. Republicans are beginning to contemplate a post-Trump era even as the president maintains an iron grip on the party.
Frank Luntz, a longtime pollster, described the year as consumed by "a sense of chaos and confusion." The uncertainty has left both parties reeling, with no clear direction or unified strategy for November's midterm elections.
In Wisconsin, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez abandoned her bid for governor after a campaign finance scandal just as she seemed to be consolidating support. Her departure has elevated Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist viewed by party leaders as a potentially weak opponent against U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the likely Republican nominee.
David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, jumped back into the race and received a rare endorsement from Gov. Tony Evers, the Democratic incumbent. The primary fight has turned regular Democratic angst into "flop sweats," according to longtime Wisconsin liberal activist Scot Ross. However, he predicted that once the focus moves past the primary fight, "Democratic unity will be so high in Wisconsin we'll all be getting nosebleeds."
In Maine, Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and political outsider, rode a wave of grassroots energy to beat the establishment pick, Gov. Janet Mills, for the Democratic nomination. He dropped out after facing an allegation of sexual assault, which he denies.
The fallout has left Democrats scrambling to choose a replacement candidate. Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster and consultant, attributed the phenomenon to President Trump's high-risk environment, where activists and voters are willing to overlook potential vulnerabilities while supporting outsiders for office.
Marc Short, the former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, compared the dynamic to when the tea party ushered in a wave of untested Republican candidates who famously beat establishment figures in primaries but lost in November. The shoe is now on the other foot.
Other races are forcing Democrats to confront some of their deepest divisions and questions about which wing of the party will best position it to win the next presidential election.
In Michigan, progressive favorite Abdul El-Sayed has worried party leaders like Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer who fear he's too far left to win in the battleground state. The primary highlights a schism over Israel, with El-Sayed describing Israel's military campaign in Gaza as a genocide, an accusation rejected by Israel and the White House.
Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said it's clear that voters across the country are rebelling against a political system they see as rigged and are yearning for candidates willing to fight on their behalf.
Written by: Clark Fader | The Citizen Edition
“Power is mine alone.”