Unlike other matters the politicized justice department is pursuing, there actually might be a basis to charge Cuomo. With lying to congress. Just another reason New York City Democrats should not choose him.
Dude is a gross sex pest who left office in disgrace. The only good thing about his campaign is the exposure of the holier then thou caucus that threw others out for less lining up to endorse this creep.
Worst group to me are the seemingly half of the people endorsing him who were also the ones that pushed him to resign the first time around.
Utter lack of principles from all of them. He hasn't reformed or redeemed himself. He merely seems likely to attain some level of power and they want to be on his good side for it. It's pathetic.
Yep I hope it's an anchor around all of their careers when he inevitably behaves the same way as mayor. He's not magically going to change his behavior from his early 60s into his late 60s.
I find this comment gross. Dismissing opposition to sexual harassment and abuse of power as a "woke fad" and thinking that makes people "quasi-puritanical scolds."
I don't even know where to start with how abhorrent that framing is.
Even ignoring those rather significant issues: I cannot recall a single person that was politically punished for helping to push Cuomo out the door. No one suffered for this. They are not backtracking because their 2021 actions hurt their careers.
100% agreed. The snarl word "woke" (a word I am getting quite tired of hearing) is totally inappropriate to use with regard to multiple credible accusations of sexual harassment.
I think as a general rule it makes no sense to hold people accused of sexual misconduct blameless unless they're convicted in a criminal trial. This stuff is basically impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt absent video evidence, but I'm highly skeptical that people who are accused by multiple women of misconduct are blameless. When it's one, like Tara Reade for example, I think it's easier to chalk up to potentially being fabricated. When there's nearly a dozen women describing similar experiences? It's not just woke to say the alleged perpetrator shouldn't be in a position of power.
Because Andrew Cuomo is a powerful vengeful person who can revictimize his victims through countersuits and the media? Much like Trump he knows he can sue normal people who don't have his connections into bankruptcy. At least one of his victims sued the state and he countersued another for millions as an obvious intimidation tactic. Usually 13 women don't just randomly accuse someone of sexual harassment for fun.
"Former Cuomo Aide Settles Sexual Harassment Claim for $450,000
New York State will pay to resolve a lawsuit filed by Charlotte Bennett over accusations that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed her when she worked in his executive office."
I am really tired of people framing 2024 election results as a woke backlash, polls after polls were clear. People disapproved Biden, the direction of the nation, Democrats' economy, inflation, border whether rightly or wrongly and were yearning a return to the Trump economy. Very few voters ranked culture war issues among those that influenced their vote.
As the arch-moderate Clinton himself said, "It's the economy, stupid."
Doug Jones would be a formidable senator! I hope he runs for the Senate seat Tuberville is abandoning. On another note, I have always felt that Doug Jones is the man President Biden should have appointed as Attorney General. Had Biden done so. I expect Trump would now be behind bars instead of occupying the Oval Office.
Jones WAS a formidable Senator when he prevailed over Roy Moore in that special Senate race in 2017. It was an amazing night when he WON in a dark red state.
Then Tuberville beat him in 2020. Such a downgrade.
The estimable Doug Jones was able to win his single term in the Senate from Alabama because he ran against an extraordinarily flawed candidate. That does not seem likely to happen again, unless Matt Gaetz carries through on his threat to run for the Senate from Alabama.
Democrats need to fight with the strongest possible candidate everywhere. You’re right, Doug Jones would certainly have an uphill fight, no doubt about that – but is there anyone else who would have a better shot?
You are right, though it would be heart-breaking to see Doug Jones waste his energy and talents on a hopeless campaign. He should have been Harris's AG.
If Doug Jones runs for something it should be governor. That would also be uphill, but states are FAR more likely to defy their partisan lean in a statewide race than in a federal one. There’s nobody who would be stronger than Jones for the senate seat, but the truth is that nobody, including jones, has a shot at that seat, barring another Roy-Moore style scandal.
Gaetz would win if he ran against Jones today, probably by 15 points. Doug Jones prevailed in perfect storm snapshot in time when the MAGA cultural fault lines had not yet fully solidified, before DEI, "open borders", and COVID lockdowns, and when Trump was at the nadir of his first-term unpopularity. In December 2017, it was possible for Democrat to prevail by a one-point margin over a GOP child molester that even Sean Hannity couldn't bring himself to endorse. Those days are definitely over. A child molester would absolutely beat a Democrat by double digits in Alabama today.
As someone who thinks a Democrat winning Texas and Alaska is plausible in 2026, there is no chance a Democrat wins Alabama.
They approve Trump +20 in the latest poll, the best I could imagine would be downballot candidates riding the midterm wave and Doug's coattails and making modest gains.
I think Moore probably wins in a regularly scheduled election in 18 or 20 but given the senate race was the only thing on the ballot a lot of GOP voters didn't want to show up for a child molester.
If Robert Bentley hadn't gotten caught in a sex scandal and torpedoed Luther Strange's career in the process, the special never would have been competitive even with Doug Jones running.
The fact that these two Israeli Embassy staffers were a couple, and Yaron Lischinsky was about to propose to his girlfriend Sarah Lynn Milgrim, makes this heinous murder extra tragic.
In case anyone wasn't aware, the terrorist shouted "Free P*lestine!" as he murdered these two innocent Jews.
The only thing I'm wondering is how long it will be before the usual suspects on the right (Thomas Massie, Paul Gosar) and on the left (Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar) forget all about this and go back to constantly whining about how we Jews aren't nice enough to the terrorists who want to kill us.
Are you implying all Palestinians and people who support Palestine are terrorists and that Israel is justified in all its actions based on this pathetic attack and shouldn't "be nice to them"? Are you equating all Jews with Israel?
Israel/Palestine is a banned topic here anyways FYI.
This might be a controversial take, but I support Democratic groups getting involved in primaries, including party leadership, but only if there’s an immediate “can’t win a general” crazy candidate (regardless of their ideology) who could win nomination in a swing seat or in California, if Republicans are in danger of locking Democrats out.
This is a very good thing for our party and much overdue, incumbents have every right to be challenged every election that’s how we make sure we always get the majority representation for our voters (regardless of ideology/policy differences). Don’t try to squash this badly needed boost of energy and enthusiasm because so many great people are stepping up when the country needs them most. No one should be discluded, we need to hear and see all of their campaigns on what they would do if elected and decide for ourselves. Each candidate may get voters others can’t, building a stronger election coalition for the general.
Every piece of news media about Democratic primaries has me more confident that the shock catalyst of Trump being elected again because Democratic voters crossed over, will cause a tea party of the left situation in 2026 creating fresh voices for our party, just like Republicans did when they felt their party wasn’t what they wanted with who was running it. This is organic grassroots energy, so we shouldn’t squash it, but instead encourage more of it.
Going at it the David Hogg way is not the way to do things though, it's self-defeating. If you're going to get involved with a Tea Party revamp of the Democratic Party, do it properly so that if the Democratic primary in a state chose a more progressive candidate -- the national party gets behind him or her. None of this party purity or third-party BS that lost us the White House in 2016 and 2024.
Not sure where I mentioned David Hogg, but I agree with your overall sentiment. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination should be supported fully by the party irrespective of what wing or ideology they come from. That would go a long way to a lot of frustrated Democratic voters, so they can start rebuilding damaged trust with the party that we support whoever wins nomination regardless of our personal preference or ideology.
Third parties including the Libertarian and Green parties in 2016 only performed well because both parties' candidates were not well received. Whether it was justly or unjustly (But .....her emails), is up to you, that's got nothing to do with Progressives.
Third parties always perform well when the incumbent nominee is weak like Ross Perot and Ralph Nader. Harris also ran a pretty centrist campaign in 2024 but her approval on the issues like inflation and the border were always on the wrong side.
That said, progressive purity tests like an assault weapons ban and Green New Deal not BBB should stop and was a reason we got Fetterman.
The tea party should be like Conor Lamb vs Fetterman, a moderate liberal fighter vs a total do nothing dem who in the last 24hrs once again asked Trump to waste Iran. You can find some Fettermans in the house too.
Ehh I'm willing to give Fetterman a bit of a pass, even if I think he should eventually resign. Given that he's had a long history of mental health issues that have seemingly deteriorated over time, in part due to neglect and stress, it's hard to say how and why Fetterman thinks at this point.
I disagree with the way Hogg is going about it, but the fact that the DNC is trying to take away his position (regardless of the technicalities) is 100% ridiculous. I can't believe that right after an election where age/out-of-touch/youth issues were front and center that the party is trying to silence one of the few notable youth voices (again, don't care for his strategy). I really think the party has learned nothing since election day and we may only luck into a narrow House majority in 2026 because Trump voters don't turn out when he's not on the ballot.
Only if the Democratic groups are not the DCCC, DSCC or anything of the like. If they are small groups organized by like-minded people who want to primary someone out of office, fine.
Tuberville has a massive residency problem. The AL constitution is clear that you need to live in AL for 7 consecutive years before being eligible to run for Governor.
His voting and residency record put that very much in question. There is a high chance that he paid taxes in FL not Al in the last 7 years. At least one of his primary opponent will sue about this.
What happens if he is disqualified after the filing date and there's no primary opponents? I cannot imagine Alabama would allow there to be no republican candidate...
I mean, it's far more likely the residency requirement is thrown out than it is that Tuberville is thrown off the ballot (for the record, the only residency requirements that I support is that you are CURRENTLY a resident of the state/district you are representing at the time of election-a requirement that I assume Tuberville meets).
I think Earle-Sears is going to get wiped out in Virginia, even if FDJT endorses her. Expect VA Dems to expand their majorities in the General Assembly and state Senate.
It's going to be 2019 all over again for Virginians.
Ok, so expanded majority in the General Assembly then. Spanberger should be able to push more Democratic priorities through and undo what Youngkin did via EO.
I generally push back on overly rosy predictions here, but I do think this race will border on Safe D, unless the national mood changes dramatically between now and then.
BBB used to stand for "Build Back Better", the transformative legislation that President Biden unfortunately could not get Congress to pass.
To me it seems singularly perverse that Trump is using the same moniker for his heinous bill, and hideous that his BBB stands for "Big Beautiful Bill". That’s as phony as the false gold trappings this impostor has used to decorate his Oval Office.
ROBERT REICH points to a very DANGEROUS PROVISIONS hidden in the debts of this bill.
[America wonders:] Will the Supreme Court and lower courts hold the administration in contempt and enforce contempt citations?
Not if the Big Ugly Bill is enacted with the following provision, now hidden in the bill:
“No court of the United States may use appropriated funds to enforce a contempt citation for failure to comply with an injunction or temporary restraining order if no security was given when the injunction or order was issued….”
Translated: No federal court may enforce a contempt citation.
Obviously, courts need appropriated funds to do anything because Congress appropriates money to enable the courts to function. To require a security or bond to be given in civil proceedings seeking to stop alleged abuses by the federal government would effectively immunize such conduct from judicial review because those seeking such court orders generally don’t have the resources to post a bond.
Hence, with a stroke, the provision removes the judiciary’s capacity to hold officials in contempt.
Despite the "no funds" language, there is a good chance that this will be stripped out by the senate as a violation of the reconciliation (no filibuster) rules. Might not even have majority support in the senate. And courts can strike it down as a separation of powers violation if it did become law.
Didn’t the Republican Senate majority just this morning set aside the Parliamentarian’s conclusions about the CRA? Must admit I’m not confident about Majority Leader John Thune & Co adhering to the rules of reconciliation!
They are apparently using some procedural sleight of hand to avoid overruling the parliamentarian. But restricting the power of the courts to enforce orders won't have the widespread support in the Republican caucus that barring California environmental rules does.
As much as it pains me to say this, Senator Hawley would wipe the mat with Tuberville. Hawley may be an ass but he isn’t really stupid. He at least cares (or tries to care) about the worker getting the shaft from the corporate powers that be.
Tuberville isn’t even a Senator. The more he speaks, the more of an idiot he is.
If Rs manage to push through that bill gutting Medicare and Medicaid through the Senate (they barely squeaked through by 215-214 in the House), I hope there's a bloodbath for the 2026 midterms. Voters won't forget what they did & gives Dems a TON of ammo to hammer Rs on.
I hope this spat of older Dem House members dying encourages more older Dems in safe areas to retire. Have enough experienced Dems on hand to show new members the ropes, but we need new blood and younger faces.
I want more Dem House members like AOC, Frost and Crockett in the next Congress. They represent the FUTURE of this country.
Yeah, AZ statute keeps Grijalva's seat from being filled earlier. Abbott dragged his feet before setting a special House race in November (rather than early this year) to replace Turner. And it's likely that outgoing MAGA governor Youngkin will do the same for Connolly's vacant House seat.
I didn't say anything remotely close to giving up, but the 2024 election was a severe blow to the future of the country and it won't avoid severe damage for decades to come as a result.
Which people are doing. And when people push back on his disastrous policies, he wilts. And when people challenge his unlawful EOs dissolving USAID or Dept of Education, judges stop them.
I think you and Avedee are both right. I don’t think any Democrat could win there right now (maybe when people lose their homes because they can’t afford insurance premium hikes anymore, they’ll wake up to what GOP trifecta rule with no opposition has created in Florida, until then though, nope!).
I also think it’s better to have a better candidate run in any race over 1 who just filed their name and you can guarantee that somewhere down ballot a Democrat will win because of an actual campaign being run statewide. So downballot benefits are never far behind a strong state campaign. Whether that actually happens and both statewide Democrats run strong campaigns TBD (and there’s a primary to get through first!).
This is good. The only way Democrats can win a race statewide in Florida is by registering new voters and cutting into that GOP 1m+ registration advantage. Obama knew that too and focused a ton of his campaign efforts on voter registration for both of his campaigns (obviously times are very different now for Dems, so this can’t hurt and hopefully it’ll help) in Florida. Liking what I’m hearing so far from both candidates.
Weil said the experience showed him that Democrats have too often written off congressional districts that they don’t believe they can win. And with Republicans holding 20 of the state’s 28 seats, that’s roughly 70% of the state that the party hasn’t competed for in recent election cycles.
He said Monday that he and his “team” have a plan to raise $10 million for voter registration efforts across the state over the next 16 months, with a particular interest in Miami-Dade and Pinellas counties.
“We are committing to invest $1 million in the field, for every congressional district in this state, to make sure that we carry the message to voters where they are, in every district in every county, in ways that our party has been unable to cycle after cycle,” he said, adding that CD-13 is “up for grabs.”
Wasn't the voter registration worse for Democrats in Texas when Beto came so close? and we don't have an VR advantage in blue Colorado in contrast to red Louisiana. I might be very wrong but imo more vote registration is definitely required but persuasion is more important in Florida. A lot of these registered republicans might just be independent swingy Latinos who registered as such in the Trump and DeSantis hype.
And GOTV – get out the effing vote! If more Dems and Democratic-leaning Independents vote, a far higher proportion than Republican voters, then we can win. It’s all about turnout: more of us, fewer of them.
Some more candidates considering bids for MI-7 (currently held by Republican Rep. Tom Barrett) -- Bridget Brink, the former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine who resigned recently in protest of Trump's actions towards the country, and Matt Maasdam, a Navy SEAL and Obama military aide, the latter of whom has apparently met with the DCCC and House Majority PAC. Also in the potential mix is former State House Minority Leader Donna Lasinski.
This 2026 Democratic primary between Bennet & Weiser with more possibly joining is a tough choice if I were a Colorado voter. When are the running mates selected; before or after primary?
They could team up, loser be running mate of winner?! 💙🇺🇲
Bennett was a good candidate when we needed a banal moderate who could win over those swingy Colorado voters 15 years ago but I think we can do better now. I don't know if Weiser is that guy.
Bennett's still a good choice-Colorado is not a California or Massachusetts, where a progressive is electable statewide.
Mind you, I'm rooting for him if only because I'm curious about who he'd appoint as his replacement in the Senate-I'm assuming Diana DeGette would be the appointee in recognition of her long tenure in the House (also assuming she wouldn't run in 2028).
I think Polis would fall under progressive definitions unless we're limiting it to people that are Sanders or members of the Squad. Polis won by ~10 points and ~20 points in 2018 and 2022.
Also, Weiser has literally been elected statewide. Twice. It's hard to argue that he's too left to be elected statewide when he has been elected statewide. I also don't see anything to indicate that he's really all that far left in general, just presumed to not be as moderate as Bennett.
"Less moderate" than a specific person is not synonymous with "progressive." Just as "not progressive" is not synonymous with "moderate."
As someone who isn't either a progressive or moderate, how's Polis a progressive? I would rather see him as a supply side liberal or as they call it nowadays, an Abundance bro. He was the only Democratic rep to be a member of the House Libertarian Caucus. Targeted tariffs are a purity test of progressives and supported by self identified progressives like Sanders, AOC, Khanna, Whitmer and even Buttigieg and Biden. He was very loud in opposing that and has argued for globalization, deregulation and free trade. He has supported zoning reform, not regulating cryptocurrencies, expanding school vouchers, opposed vaccine mandates and making it easier to unionize.
That said, he is also very pro LGBTQ and pro personal liberties unlike other "libertarians" in congress.
P.S - I like his work in Colorado.
Also is Weiser really a progressive like some media touts him to be or is he just more progressive compared to Benett? Of the progressives who came out of the Clinton and Obama administrations which he was a part of, only Ro Khanna comes to mind.
I'll admit I haven't followed Polis too closely as governor, but I understood him as being clearly towards the left part of the party when in the house. If that isn't correct, or his tenure as governor disputes it, I'll admit my mistake and drop that.
As for Weiser, that's exactly what I was getting at the end of my comment! People are too quick to insist that if person A is less moderate than person B, then A must be a progressive. Or vice versa, if B is more moderate than A, then B must be a moderate.
Two people can both be moderate or progressive, with one of them less so than the other. Or they can be neither moderate nor progressive, instead occupying the space in between — in fact I'd argue the vast majority of democrats fit this spot.
Weiser defeated a Bernie backed progressive in 2018 by 0.5 points.
TLDR: There are no ideological differences between Weiser and Bennett, anything else is purely stylistic and opportunistic.
This clash is not likely to be all that ideological. Both Bennet and Weiser fall well within the party’s mainstream. They would be dubbed “moderates” as opposed to “progressives.” Neither will be confused for AOC nor does much of an impersonation of Bernie Sanders.
Still, there is a mood of intense frustration and dismay within the Democratic Party, which may accrue to Weiser’s benefit. The root of it is the impotence felt in the face of the Trump onslaught, and with Democrats holding no real levers of power.
The response to Cory Booker’s 25-hour stem-winder spoke to the distress. It was just a speech, albeit a very long, bladder-challenged one. But it represented doing something, anything, to counter the helplessness.
Bennet and his first amigo, Hickenlooper, are figures of a Democratic establishment that is situationally unable to deliver what its constituents crave by way of effective opposition. That is hardly their fault. But it provides running room for fresher faces and challengers.
Early indications are that Weiser will try to run to Bennet’s left. There may be fertile terrain to be found there as both parties continue to polarize. The notion of Weiser as some kind of leftie champion is comical. Much shouting and many contrived differences lie ahead even as the actual, substantive variance between the two contenders is minimal.
Agreed. Raffensberger appears to be a sane, institutionally-oriented, conservative (but not extreme) Republican. That's...kinda not a thing anymore in today's Republican party...and sure as hell not in the south...
Unlike other matters the politicized justice department is pursuing, there actually might be a basis to charge Cuomo. With lying to congress. Just another reason New York City Democrats should not choose him.
Well he turned it into an ad: https://youtu.be/0RW5kfgdWtE?si=9Cy9JaZIgJshLFQL
Suprised they are prosecuting him when a lot of his donors are Trump's buddies.
It all has to do with the fringe segments of the base. He's a villain to the anti-vaxxer crowd, and they can't go after Fauci since Joe pardoned him.
Maybe he wants to turn him into another Trump who can play up his criminality as a victim card?
I mean, Trump probably could ignore Biden's pardons if he can find a judge and prosecutor willing to do so (what a chilling thought).
He's fair game in the future then
Correct.
I mean this would effectively nullify the pardon power which
A) even the most conservative circuit judges in the country would laugh at
B) would be on net positive for the country, it's long past time to get rid of it.
Dude is a gross sex pest who left office in disgrace. The only good thing about his campaign is the exposure of the holier then thou caucus that threw others out for less lining up to endorse this creep.
Worst group to me are the seemingly half of the people endorsing him who were also the ones that pushed him to resign the first time around.
Utter lack of principles from all of them. He hasn't reformed or redeemed himself. He merely seems likely to attain some level of power and they want to be on his good side for it. It's pathetic.
Yep I hope it's an anchor around all of their careers when he inevitably behaves the same way as mayor. He's not magically going to change his behavior from his early 60s into his late 60s.
I hope not, because that would mean he was elected Mayor!
He probably will be. Prep your mind for that likelihood.
They dropped those principles because the whole woke fad brought one hell of a backlash. Being quasi-puritanical scolds was not a good look.
I find this comment gross. Dismissing opposition to sexual harassment and abuse of power as a "woke fad" and thinking that makes people "quasi-puritanical scolds."
I don't even know where to start with how abhorrent that framing is.
Even ignoring those rather significant issues: I cannot recall a single person that was politically punished for helping to push Cuomo out the door. No one suffered for this. They are not backtracking because their 2021 actions hurt their careers.
100% agreed. The snarl word "woke" (a word I am getting quite tired of hearing) is totally inappropriate to use with regard to multiple credible accusations of sexual harassment.
Why was he never sued? Why were charges dropped due to a lack of evidence?
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/nyregion/cuomo-charlotte-bennett-settlement.html
He was sued, and settled.
I didn't know about that. It just seemed like everything against him just disintegrated when all charges were dropped.
I think as a general rule it makes no sense to hold people accused of sexual misconduct blameless unless they're convicted in a criminal trial. This stuff is basically impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt absent video evidence, but I'm highly skeptical that people who are accused by multiple women of misconduct are blameless. When it's one, like Tara Reade for example, I think it's easier to chalk up to potentially being fabricated. When there's nearly a dozen women describing similar experiences? It's not just woke to say the alleged perpetrator shouldn't be in a position of power.
Because Andrew Cuomo is a powerful vengeful person who can revictimize his victims through countersuits and the media? Much like Trump he knows he can sue normal people who don't have his connections into bankruptcy. At least one of his victims sued the state and he countersued another for millions as an obvious intimidation tactic. Usually 13 women don't just randomly accuse someone of sexual harassment for fun.
"Former Cuomo Aide Settles Sexual Harassment Claim for $450,000
New York State will pay to resolve a lawsuit filed by Charlotte Bennett over accusations that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed her when she worked in his executive office."
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/nyregion/cuomo-charlotte-bennett-settlement.html
Andrew Cuomo sues woman who accused him of sexual harassment for defamation
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/andrew-cuomo-lawsuit-charlotte-bennett-defamation-sexual-harassment/
A separate AG investigation found he harassed at least 11 women.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/andrew-cuomo-sexual-harassment-new-york-attorney-general-letitia-james-investigation/
He's a creepy sex pest who is unfit for office.
I am really tired of people framing 2024 election results as a woke backlash, polls after polls were clear. People disapproved Biden, the direction of the nation, Democrats' economy, inflation, border whether rightly or wrongly and were yearning a return to the Trump economy. Very few voters ranked culture war issues among those that influenced their vote.
As the arch-moderate Clinton himself said, "It's the economy, stupid."
it can be multiple things, and at the very least the election showed that a lot of people do not care about hostility to wokeness.
In re: the WI-1 item yesterday, does Bryce have any money left over from 2018?
Doug Jones would be a formidable senator! I hope he runs for the Senate seat Tuberville is abandoning. On another note, I have always felt that Doug Jones is the man President Biden should have appointed as Attorney General. Had Biden done so. I expect Trump would now be behind bars instead of occupying the Oval Office.
Jones WAS a formidable Senator when he prevailed over Roy Moore in that special Senate race in 2017. It was an amazing night when he WON in a dark red state.
Then Tuberville beat him in 2020. Such a downgrade.
The estimable Doug Jones was able to win his single term in the Senate from Alabama because he ran against an extraordinarily flawed candidate. That does not seem likely to happen again, unless Matt Gaetz carries through on his threat to run for the Senate from Alabama.
Democrats need to fight with the strongest possible candidate everywhere. You’re right, Doug Jones would certainly have an uphill fight, no doubt about that – but is there anyone else who would have a better shot?
You are right, though it would be heart-breaking to see Doug Jones waste his energy and talents on a hopeless campaign. He should have been Harris's AG.
Indeed, first Biden’s then President Harris’.
Are you saying Jones would have better chances running against Tuberville for Governor of Alabama?
I think he would. Voters who usually vote Republican are much more likely to cross over for a state race than a federal one.
Are there any districts that he could help flip downballot in a 2026 blue wave?
Democrats should focus on Huntsville with a lot of post grads, federal workers and scientists!
Republican Dale Strong represents Alabama's 5th Congressional District, which includes Huntsville. He ran unopposed in 2024.
If Doug Jones runs for something it should be governor. That would also be uphill, but states are FAR more likely to defy their partisan lean in a statewide race than in a federal one. There’s nobody who would be stronger than Jones for the senate seat, but the truth is that nobody, including jones, has a shot at that seat, barring another Roy-Moore style scandal.
Gaetz would win if he ran against Jones today, probably by 15 points. Doug Jones prevailed in perfect storm snapshot in time when the MAGA cultural fault lines had not yet fully solidified, before DEI, "open borders", and COVID lockdowns, and when Trump was at the nadir of his first-term unpopularity. In December 2017, it was possible for Democrat to prevail by a one-point margin over a GOP child molester that even Sean Hannity couldn't bring himself to endorse. Those days are definitely over. A child molester would absolutely beat a Democrat by double digits in Alabama today.
Ha sadly you're right. That Alabama race truly happened at a "the stars are aligned" moment.
As someone who thinks a Democrat winning Texas and Alaska is plausible in 2026, there is no chance a Democrat wins Alabama.
They approve Trump +20 in the latest poll, the best I could imagine would be downballot candidates riding the midterm wave and Doug's coattails and making modest gains.
I think Moore probably wins in a regularly scheduled election in 18 or 20 but given the senate race was the only thing on the ballot a lot of GOP voters didn't want to show up for a child molester.
If Robert Bentley hadn't gotten caught in a sex scandal and torpedoed Luther Strange's career in the process, the special never would have been competitive even with Doug Jones running.
It was close enough that you could be right.
Condolences this morning to the Jewish community on the DC terrorist attack.
The fact that these two Israeli Embassy staffers were a couple, and Yaron Lischinsky was about to propose to his girlfriend Sarah Lynn Milgrim, makes this heinous murder extra tragic.
And they were peaceniks too.
In case anyone wasn't aware, the terrorist shouted "Free P*lestine!" as he murdered these two innocent Jews.
The only thing I'm wondering is how long it will be before the usual suspects on the right (Thomas Massie, Paul Gosar) and on the left (Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar) forget all about this and go back to constantly whining about how we Jews aren't nice enough to the terrorists who want to kill us.
Are you implying all Palestinians are terrorists?
And isn’t Israel/Palestine a banned topic here anyway?
For the record I obviously condemn the attack.
Are you implying all Palestinians and people who support Palestine are terrorists and that Israel is justified in all its actions based on this pathetic attack and shouldn't "be nice to them"? Are you equating all Jews with Israel?
Israel/Palestine is a banned topic here anyways FYI.
Let's shut this down right here please, thanks.
Thank you!!!
Btw Democratic presidential primary talk, Hillary/Bernie, Biden/Bernie is also banned here afaik.
I'm so upset and so angry about this.
This might be a controversial take, but I support Democratic groups getting involved in primaries, including party leadership, but only if there’s an immediate “can’t win a general” crazy candidate (regardless of their ideology) who could win nomination in a swing seat or in California, if Republicans are in danger of locking Democrats out.
This is a very good thing for our party and much overdue, incumbents have every right to be challenged every election that’s how we make sure we always get the majority representation for our voters (regardless of ideology/policy differences). Don’t try to squash this badly needed boost of energy and enthusiasm because so many great people are stepping up when the country needs them most. No one should be discluded, we need to hear and see all of their campaigns on what they would do if elected and decide for ourselves. Each candidate may get voters others can’t, building a stronger election coalition for the general.
Every piece of news media about Democratic primaries has me more confident that the shock catalyst of Trump being elected again because Democratic voters crossed over, will cause a tea party of the left situation in 2026 creating fresh voices for our party, just like Republicans did when they felt their party wasn’t what they wanted with who was running it. This is organic grassroots energy, so we shouldn’t squash it, but instead encourage more of it.
Going at it the David Hogg way is not the way to do things though, it's self-defeating. If you're going to get involved with a Tea Party revamp of the Democratic Party, do it properly so that if the Democratic primary in a state chose a more progressive candidate -- the national party gets behind him or her. None of this party purity or third-party BS that lost us the White House in 2016 and 2024.
Not sure where I mentioned David Hogg, but I agree with your overall sentiment. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination should be supported fully by the party irrespective of what wing or ideology they come from. That would go a long way to a lot of frustrated Democratic voters, so they can start rebuilding damaged trust with the party that we support whoever wins nomination regardless of our personal preference or ideology.
Third parties including the Libertarian and Green parties in 2016 only performed well because both parties' candidates were not well received. Whether it was justly or unjustly (But .....her emails), is up to you, that's got nothing to do with Progressives.
Third parties always perform well when the incumbent nominee is weak like Ross Perot and Ralph Nader. Harris also ran a pretty centrist campaign in 2024 but her approval on the issues like inflation and the border were always on the wrong side.
That said, progressive purity tests like an assault weapons ban and Green New Deal not BBB should stop and was a reason we got Fetterman.
The tea party should be like Conor Lamb vs Fetterman, a moderate liberal fighter vs a total do nothing dem who in the last 24hrs once again asked Trump to waste Iran. You can find some Fettermans in the house too.
I seriously doubt that John Fetterman finishes his term, much less run for re-election. He has never really recovered from his stroke.
Ehh I'm willing to give Fetterman a bit of a pass, even if I think he should eventually resign. Given that he's had a long history of mental health issues that have seemingly deteriorated over time, in part due to neglect and stress, it's hard to say how and why Fetterman thinks at this point.
We have to be very careful not to push Fetterman right into the welcoming arms of Senate Republicans. That would be massive political malpractice!
You can't be both a party insider and an insurgent trying to bring down the establishment at the same time.
I disagree with the way Hogg is going about it, but the fact that the DNC is trying to take away his position (regardless of the technicalities) is 100% ridiculous. I can't believe that right after an election where age/out-of-touch/youth issues were front and center that the party is trying to silence one of the few notable youth voices (again, don't care for his strategy). I really think the party has learned nothing since election day and we may only luck into a narrow House majority in 2026 because Trump voters don't turn out when he's not on the ballot.
"discluded"? Seriously, dude?
Can you tell me why you’re upset over me using that word? I don’t understand your reaction.
Was someone else using "excluded"?
Not quite the same thing, Ray. "Disclude" seems more precise in Dragonfire’s context. Just my two cents.
Disclude, from the Latin word "discludere," meaning "to shut apart."
You know what, you're absolutely right! They aren't the same thing.
See, disclude has the letters "dis" at the beginning of it, and exclude (the not so snotty term) has "ex" at the beginning.
Because that hillbilly reference book, the Oxford English Dictionary, says that the definition of disclude is...wait for it...to exclude.
https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?scope=Entries&q=disclude
Only if the Democratic groups are not the DCCC, DSCC or anything of the like. If they are small groups organized by like-minded people who want to primary someone out of office, fine.
However, the DNC needs to do two things:
1) Keep Democrats in office.
2) Elect Democrats.
Nothing else.
Tuberville has a massive residency problem. The AL constitution is clear that you need to live in AL for 7 consecutive years before being eligible to run for Governor.
His voting and residency record put that very much in question. There is a high chance that he paid taxes in FL not Al in the last 7 years. At least one of his primary opponent will sue about this.
https://www.al.com/news/2025/05/why-did-tommy-tuberville-vote-in-florida-if-he-lived-in-alabama.html
Would be delicious if he runs for governor and gets disqualified too late to run for reelection.
The thing is, he doesn't have any primary opponents. Maybe a Some Dude will get in and challenge him, but I wouldn't bank on it.
What happens if he is disqualified after the filing date and there's no primary opponents? I cannot imagine Alabama would allow there to be no republican candidate...
I mean, it's far more likely the residency requirement is thrown out than it is that Tuberville is thrown off the ballot (for the record, the only residency requirements that I support is that you are CURRENTLY a resident of the state/district you are representing at the time of election-a requirement that I assume Tuberville meets).
I also wouldn’t nominate any of the current two House Democrats in AL. They have appeal that is particularly unique to their districts.
Otherwise, Democrats need to find candidates who have at least reasonable appeal statewide for a Senate race.
VA Gov Roanoke College poll: Spanberger 43 Earle-Sears 26
https://www.roanoke.edu/news/rc_poll_politics_may_2025
That’s a good sign.
I think Earle-Sears is going to get wiped out in Virginia, even if FDJT endorses her. Expect VA Dems to expand their majorities in the General Assembly and state Senate.
It's going to be 2019 all over again for Virginians.
State Senate is only up in the 3rd year of the 4 year cycle
Ok, so expanded majority in the General Assembly then. Spanberger should be able to push more Democratic priorities through and undo what Youngkin did via EO.
Semantic, but wouldn't it be the 4th year of the 4-year cycle?
1st year - Presidential (2024)
2nd year - Gov/HOD/local (2025)
3rd year - Midterms (2026)
4th year - St Senate/HOD/local (2027)
I think of presidential as the fourth year
2017*
Earle-Sears probably entered the whatever stage for a long time.
Margins are ridiculous but this race is Safe D. Military and fed workers in central/northern VA aren't going to vote for any T-aligned candidates.
I generally push back on overly rosy predictions here, but I do think this race will border on Safe D, unless the national mood changes dramatically between now and then.
BBB used to stand for "Build Back Better", the transformative legislation that President Biden unfortunately could not get Congress to pass.
To me it seems singularly perverse that Trump is using the same moniker for his heinous bill, and hideous that his BBB stands for "Big Beautiful Bill". That’s as phony as the false gold trappings this impostor has used to decorate his Oval Office.
ROBERT REICH points to a very DANGEROUS PROVISIONS hidden in the debts of this bill.
https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/the-hidden-provision-in-the-big-ugly?r=4o8dwj&utm_medium=ios
From Robert Reich’s substack column:
[America wonders:] Will the Supreme Court and lower courts hold the administration in contempt and enforce contempt citations?
Not if the Big Ugly Bill is enacted with the following provision, now hidden in the bill:
“No court of the United States may use appropriated funds to enforce a contempt citation for failure to comply with an injunction or temporary restraining order if no security was given when the injunction or order was issued….”
Translated: No federal court may enforce a contempt citation.
Obviously, courts need appropriated funds to do anything because Congress appropriates money to enable the courts to function. To require a security or bond to be given in civil proceedings seeking to stop alleged abuses by the federal government would effectively immunize such conduct from judicial review because those seeking such court orders generally don’t have the resources to post a bond.
Hence, with a stroke, the provision removes the judiciary’s capacity to hold officials in contempt.
Despite the "no funds" language, there is a good chance that this will be stripped out by the senate as a violation of the reconciliation (no filibuster) rules. Might not even have majority support in the senate. And courts can strike it down as a separation of powers violation if it did become law.
Didn’t the Republican Senate majority just this morning set aside the Parliamentarian’s conclusions about the CRA? Must admit I’m not confident about Majority Leader John Thune & Co adhering to the rules of reconciliation!
They are apparently using some procedural sleight of hand to avoid overruling the parliamentarian. But restricting the power of the courts to enforce orders won't have the widespread support in the Republican caucus that barring California environmental rules does.
I'm cautiously optimistic this doesn't last through the Senate markups.
Tommy Tuberville is a criminal many times over, election denier and traitor to this country. He belongs in JAIL!
He's also a huge racist and doesn't even hide it with dog whistles.
He's also so stupid that it literally *hurts.*
Any more than almost all of the rest of the Republican Caucuses in the House and Senate are?
As much as it pains me to say this, Senator Hawley would wipe the mat with Tuberville. Hawley may be an ass but he isn’t really stupid. He at least cares (or tries to care) about the worker getting the shaft from the corporate powers that be.
Tuberville isn’t even a Senator. The more he speaks, the more of an idiot he is.
I agree. Though I hope I never have to make such a choice myself!
Me either!
If Rs manage to push through that bill gutting Medicare and Medicaid through the Senate (they barely squeaked through by 215-214 in the House), I hope there's a bloodbath for the 2026 midterms. Voters won't forget what they did & gives Dems a TON of ammo to hammer Rs on.
Too bad the Dem caucus has so many vacancies. Could have squeezed this vote harder.
I hope this spat of older Dem House members dying encourages more older Dems in safe areas to retire. Have enough experienced Dems on hand to show new members the ropes, but we need new blood and younger faces.
I want more Dem House members like AOC, Frost and Crockett in the next Congress. They represent the FUTURE of this country.
Specially if they are in states where Republican Governors have leeway to decide how they are replaced.
Yeah, AZ statute keeps Grijalva's seat from being filled earlier. Abbott dragged his feet before setting a special House race in November (rather than early this year) to replace Turner. And it's likely that outgoing MAGA governor Youngkin will do the same for Connolly's vacant House seat.
We hope they represent the future. I'm not so hopeful about this country.
We're winning in court. We're vastly outperforming Rs in special election turnout. Republicans win when we DON'T fight back and when we don't vote.
I'm not giving up on this country. Trump is termed out and voters are PISSED OFF.
I didn't say anything remotely close to giving up, but the 2024 election was a severe blow to the future of the country and it won't avoid severe damage for decades to come as a result.
Trump won’t be able to do as much damage if people actually get up and fight back.
Which people are doing. And when people push back on his disastrous policies, he wilts. And when people challenge his unlawful EOs dissolving USAID or Dept of Education, judges stop them.
https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/21/david-jolly-josh-weil-test-drive-their-campaign-messages-at-pinellas-town-hall/
David Jolly running for Governor and Josh Weil for Senate in Florida.
Weil isn’t a bad get, tbh. Strike after the iron was hot
When was the iron hot?
Wdym?
I'm guessing after the special elections? I don't know if those swings are enough to win statewide, I doubt it
Probably not but having credible candidates at the top of the ticket will help with seats that are getting marginal in south FLA.
I think you and Avedee are both right. I don’t think any Democrat could win there right now (maybe when people lose their homes because they can’t afford insurance premium hikes anymore, they’ll wake up to what GOP trifecta rule with no opposition has created in Florida, until then though, nope!).
I also think it’s better to have a better candidate run in any race over 1 who just filed their name and you can guarantee that somewhere down ballot a Democrat will win because of an actual campaign being run statewide. So downballot benefits are never far behind a strong state campaign. Whether that actually happens and both statewide Democrats run strong campaigns TBD (and there’s a primary to get through first!).
This is good. The only way Democrats can win a race statewide in Florida is by registering new voters and cutting into that GOP 1m+ registration advantage. Obama knew that too and focused a ton of his campaign efforts on voter registration for both of his campaigns (obviously times are very different now for Dems, so this can’t hurt and hopefully it’ll help) in Florida. Liking what I’m hearing so far from both candidates.
Weil said the experience showed him that Democrats have too often written off congressional districts that they don’t believe they can win. And with Republicans holding 20 of the state’s 28 seats, that’s roughly 70% of the state that the party hasn’t competed for in recent election cycles.
He said Monday that he and his “team” have a plan to raise $10 million for voter registration efforts across the state over the next 16 months, with a particular interest in Miami-Dade and Pinellas counties.
“We are committing to invest $1 million in the field, for every congressional district in this state, to make sure that we carry the message to voters where they are, in every district in every county, in ways that our party has been unable to cycle after cycle,” he said, adding that CD-13 is “up for grabs.”
Wasn't the voter registration worse for Democrats in Texas when Beto came so close? and we don't have an VR advantage in blue Colorado in contrast to red Louisiana. I might be very wrong but imo more vote registration is definitely required but persuasion is more important in Florida. A lot of these registered republicans might just be independent swingy Latinos who registered as such in the Trump and DeSantis hype.
And GOTV – get out the effing vote! If more Dems and Democratic-leaning Independents vote, a far higher proportion than Republican voters, then we can win. It’s all about turnout: more of us, fewer of them.
At this point, all I care about is winning elections. That’s all my mind is computing these days.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/22/retired-navy-seal-obama-aide-matt-maasdam-mulling-run-for-congress-in-michigan-democrat/83777985007/
Some more candidates considering bids for MI-7 (currently held by Republican Rep. Tom Barrett) -- Bridget Brink, the former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine who resigned recently in protest of Trump's actions towards the country, and Matt Maasdam, a Navy SEAL and Obama military aide, the latter of whom has apparently met with the DCCC and House Majority PAC. Also in the potential mix is former State House Minority Leader Donna Lasinski.
New special in GA. State Senate District 21. called for August 26. https://x.com/GabrielSterling/status/1925632249845715275
Thanks for the flag! Nothing like a special election during the dog days of summer in Georgia!
This a red, blue or swing district?
Looks very red. The 2024 result had the republican winning 70-30.
The tweet says it will be a jungle election…no special primary.
So if several R candidates run and spread out the R votes, and just one Dem runs... who knows what could happen...
RE: Colorado governor:
This 2026 Democratic primary between Bennet & Weiser with more possibly joining is a tough choice if I were a Colorado voter. When are the running mates selected; before or after primary?
They could team up, loser be running mate of winner?! 💙🇺🇲
Bennett was a good candidate when we needed a banal moderate who could win over those swingy Colorado voters 15 years ago but I think we can do better now. I don't know if Weiser is that guy.
Bennett's still a good choice-Colorado is not a California or Massachusetts, where a progressive is electable statewide.
Mind you, I'm rooting for him if only because I'm curious about who he'd appoint as his replacement in the Senate-I'm assuming Diana DeGette would be the appointee in recognition of her long tenure in the House (also assuming she wouldn't run in 2028).
I think Polis would fall under progressive definitions unless we're limiting it to people that are Sanders or members of the Squad. Polis won by ~10 points and ~20 points in 2018 and 2022.
Also, Weiser has literally been elected statewide. Twice. It's hard to argue that he's too left to be elected statewide when he has been elected statewide. I also don't see anything to indicate that he's really all that far left in general, just presumed to not be as moderate as Bennett.
"Less moderate" than a specific person is not synonymous with "progressive." Just as "not progressive" is not synonymous with "moderate."
I honestly would rather that Weiser have run for Governor (Polis is term-limited, if I'm not mistaken).
This thread is about Weiser running for governor... I was using Polis as an example of how a progressive is electable statewide in Colorado.
Whoops, I meant Senate in 2028.
As someone who isn't either a progressive or moderate, how's Polis a progressive? I would rather see him as a supply side liberal or as they call it nowadays, an Abundance bro. He was the only Democratic rep to be a member of the House Libertarian Caucus. Targeted tariffs are a purity test of progressives and supported by self identified progressives like Sanders, AOC, Khanna, Whitmer and even Buttigieg and Biden. He was very loud in opposing that and has argued for globalization, deregulation and free trade. He has supported zoning reform, not regulating cryptocurrencies, expanding school vouchers, opposed vaccine mandates and making it easier to unionize.
That said, he is also very pro LGBTQ and pro personal liberties unlike other "libertarians" in congress.
P.S - I like his work in Colorado.
Also is Weiser really a progressive like some media touts him to be or is he just more progressive compared to Benett? Of the progressives who came out of the Clinton and Obama administrations which he was a part of, only Ro Khanna comes to mind.
I'll admit I haven't followed Polis too closely as governor, but I understood him as being clearly towards the left part of the party when in the house. If that isn't correct, or his tenure as governor disputes it, I'll admit my mistake and drop that.
As for Weiser, that's exactly what I was getting at the end of my comment! People are too quick to insist that if person A is less moderate than person B, then A must be a progressive. Or vice versa, if B is more moderate than A, then B must be a moderate.
Two people can both be moderate or progressive, with one of them less so than the other. Or they can be neither moderate nor progressive, instead occupying the space in between — in fact I'd argue the vast majority of democrats fit this spot.
Found an article from local media.
Weiser defeated a Bernie backed progressive in 2018 by 0.5 points.
TLDR: There are no ideological differences between Weiser and Bennett, anything else is purely stylistic and opportunistic.
This clash is not likely to be all that ideological. Both Bennet and Weiser fall well within the party’s mainstream. They would be dubbed “moderates” as opposed to “progressives.” Neither will be confused for AOC nor does much of an impersonation of Bernie Sanders.
Still, there is a mood of intense frustration and dismay within the Democratic Party, which may accrue to Weiser’s benefit. The root of it is the impotence felt in the face of the Trump onslaught, and with Democrats holding no real levers of power.
The response to Cory Booker’s 25-hour stem-winder spoke to the distress. It was just a speech, albeit a very long, bladder-challenged one. But it represented doing something, anything, to counter the helplessness.
Bennet and his first amigo, Hickenlooper, are figures of a Democratic establishment that is situationally unable to deliver what its constituents crave by way of effective opposition. That is hardly their fault. But it provides running room for fresher faces and challengers.
Early indications are that Weiser will try to run to Bennet’s left. There may be fertile terrain to be found there as both parties continue to polarize. The notion of Weiser as some kind of leftie champion is comical. Much shouting and many contrived differences lie ahead even as the actual, substantive variance between the two contenders is minimal.
https://gazette.com/denver-gazette/column-the-race-for-governor-will-not-be-a-cakewalk/article_81e4c565-9350-4ffe-8eee-1b198dcca257.html
I'm leaning towards Weiser but don't have any major problems with Bennett and am open to whoever else may jump in.
🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
GA-Sen, New poll from the GOP outfit Cyngal has Ossoff narrowly leading all candidates but tied with Raffensberger. Their poll also shows Trump's approval in Georgia at 46/50. Pretty conservative sample but not bad results. Like Kemp, I don't think Raffensberger goes for it. I think he goes for the Governor run. https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:90ddd7f9-bdbc-46ef-aeb2-c5a88db84a3d?viewer%21megaVerb=group-discover
Like Kemp, Raffensberger would be DOA in a Republican Primary for Senate or Governor.
Agreed. Raffensberger appears to be a sane, institutionally-oriented, conservative (but not extreme) Republican. That's...kinda not a thing anymore in today's Republican party...and sure as hell not in the south...
Kemp would’ve cleared Sen primary had he gone for it. Raff probably would lose either the Gov or Sen if he chooses to run.
Kemp has pissed off Trump enough that Trump would have endorsed anyone running against him.
Well, it doesn’t work that way.
Yeah, Kemp already defied Trump and won before. GOP voters are somewhat capable of picking and choosing how stupid they want to be.
Ossoff is looking better more and more now that Kemp decided against challenging him.