Democrats wrestle with their own ‘toxic’ brand
Loss of congressional race in Georgia showcased to some party’s undeveloped message
Democrats seethed, second-guessed and sought to regroup Wednesday after a disappointing special election defeat in Georgia, with the party’s campaign chief in the House of Representatives outlining alternative paths to taking power, and some lawmakers questioning anew the leadership and political strategy of Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic minority leader.
By fiercely contesting a congressional race in the conservative Atlanta suburbs, Democrats had hoped to make an emphatic statement about the weakness of the Republican Party under U.S. President Donald Trump. Their candidate, Jon Ossoff, raised about $25 million (U.S.), largely in small donations, and assertively courted right-of-centre voters with promises of economic development and fiscal restraint.
But as the returns came in and Ossoff remained stubbornly behind Karen Handel, a veteran local officeholder, Democratic frustrations burst into full view. Lawmakers and strategists fretted about the party’s inchoate message, and some called the race a sign that Democrats should not bet too heavily on converting red-tinged suburbs to win a majority in the House.
Democrat Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio, who has been a vocal critic of his party’s overarching political strategy, said they needed to recognize that they were “toxic” in huge parts of the country.
“Our brand is worse than Trump,” said Ryan, who urged Democrats to make forging a clear economic agenda an urgent priority. “We can’t just run against Trump.”
Ryan, who tried to unseat Pelosi as House minority leader after the November elections, said she remained a political drag on other Democrats. Handel and Republican outside groups tied Ossoff to Pelosi in campaign events and television ads, casting him as a puppet for what they described as her liberal agenda and “San Francisco values.”
“They’re still running against her and still winning races, and it’s still a problem,” Ryan said.
In Washington, Rep. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, moved to calm the party overnight, circulating a memo that outlined in detail how Democrats aim to capture a majority in 2018. In the document, which was sent to lawmakers and staff, Lujan wrote that there was “no doubt that Democrats can take back the House next fall” in the midterm elections.
Acknowledging that the Georgia result was a setback, Lujan wrote Wednesday that there were between six and eight dozen seats held by Republican lawmakers that would be easier for Democrats to capture than Georgia’s 6th. He said the next few months would become a “recruitment blitz” for Democrats as they enlist candidates in those elections.
“Let’s look outside of the traditional mould to keep recruiting local leaders, veterans, business owners, women, job creators and health professionals,” Lujan wrote. “Let’s take the time to find people who fit their districts, have compelling stories, and work hard to earn support from voters.”
Democrats need to win 24 Republican-held seats in order to win control of the House.