Solid list. Important to prioritize officials that are potentially vulnerable over challenges that might make us feel good but are less likely to succeed.
Based on my admittedly limited knowledge, I'd highlight Moulton as a viable target. Massachusetts' dem establish will typically circle the wagons, but everything I've read and seen indi…
Solid list. Important to prioritize officials that are potentially vulnerable over challenges that might make us feel good but are less likely to succeed.
Based on my admittedly limited knowledge, I'd highlight Moulton as a viable target. Massachusetts' dem establish will typically circle the wagons, but everything I've read and seen indicates that there is no love lost for Moulton there. His institutional support should be weaker than most incumbents. His vanity 2020 presidential run and quixotic anti-Pelosi stint in 2018 give ammunition to work for with "not focusing on his district" kind of attacks. Plus, it's a safe seat that any reasonably scandal free democrat could hold reliably.
I find it odd when candidates that win office by successfully primarying a member of their own party adopt a cavalier attitude for their own ability to win primaries. They know first hand that incumbents can lose in a primary yet so many of them act oblivious to the possibility that it could happen to them.
I remember being optimistic about him after 2014 as well.
I don't feel bad about it though. There are a lot of flaws with the dem establishment so a rising anti-establishment person showing up, ousting an known corrupt incumbent in a primary, and in all likelihood preventing us from losing a blue seat in a red wave, is going to get people excited for that person's future.
Unfortunately in Moulton's case I think his ego got the better of him. He's problematic and we can and should do better, but he's not problematic in the same vein as someone like Gottheimer, who seems almost gleeful in his shittiness.
I give Gottheimer credit for one thing - He unseated entrenched incumbent Republican Congressman Scott Garrett, one of the few House wins Democrats got back in 2016.
Peter Blute and Peter Torkildsen were the last elected, both were first elected in 1992 and reelected in 1994, before losing in 1996.
Both of them are still in their 60s. Younger than some newer officials, despite not having been in office for nearly 30 years. By my count, younger than two house members first elected in 2024 (Latimer and Turner), and two first elected in 2022 (Self and Thanedar). Plus a further four first elected in 2020.
Solid list. Important to prioritize officials that are potentially vulnerable over challenges that might make us feel good but are less likely to succeed.
Based on my admittedly limited knowledge, I'd highlight Moulton as a viable target. Massachusetts' dem establish will typically circle the wagons, but everything I've read and seen indicates that there is no love lost for Moulton there. His institutional support should be weaker than most incumbents. His vanity 2020 presidential run and quixotic anti-Pelosi stint in 2018 give ammunition to work for with "not focusing on his district" kind of attacks. Plus, it's a safe seat that any reasonably scandal free democrat could hold reliably.
I find it odd when candidates that win office by successfully primarying a member of their own party adopt a cavalier attitude for their own ability to win primaries. They know first hand that incumbents can lose in a primary yet so many of them act oblivious to the possibility that it could happen to them.
Moulton’s mediocrity really bums me out; I was really excited about him in 2014 (granted I had more “bold centrist” inclinations then than I do now)
I remember being optimistic about him after 2014 as well.
I don't feel bad about it though. There are a lot of flaws with the dem establishment so a rising anti-establishment person showing up, ousting an known corrupt incumbent in a primary, and in all likelihood preventing us from losing a blue seat in a red wave, is going to get people excited for that person's future.
Unfortunately in Moulton's case I think his ego got the better of him. He's problematic and we can and should do better, but he's not problematic in the same vein as someone like Gottheimer, who seems almost gleeful in his shittiness.
I give Gottheimer credit for one thing - He unseated entrenched incumbent Republican Congressman Scott Garrett, one of the few House wins Democrats got back in 2016.
That's it.
The beauty of primarying Moulton is that his district is blue with a rating of D+11.
When was the last time the GOP ever won a House seat in MA?
Peter Blute and Peter Torkildsen were the last elected, both were first elected in 1992 and reelected in 1994, before losing in 1996.
Both of them are still in their 60s. Younger than some newer officials, despite not having been in office for nearly 30 years. By my count, younger than two house members first elected in 2024 (Latimer and Turner), and two first elected in 2022 (Self and Thanedar). Plus a further four first elected in 2020.