People (especially dnc leadership) are way to quick to write states off as "red" and then just don't try.
Or they run someone that would have been a Republican 20 years ago and don't understand why it's not working.
If people wanted conservative policy, they'd vote Republican. Running two conservatives just means lots of people won't vote. Because the result is either bad or terrible.
Give people a candidate that they want. And more people vote. The more people vote, the less likely a Republican wins. Even in "red states".
Despite what I said above about Sakbun, it is pretty surprising he was able to unseat Duke Bennett, who handily won multiple elections and was in office the entire time I've been here, which is about 10 years. I do attribute it to people being fed up with Republicans, especially since this town is heavily populated by union members. We have a whole bunch of union halls and people with 'union strong' signs outside their houses. That didn't stop them from voting Republican in the past, but maybe they've finally realized that Republicans have done nothing for them.
That said, Indiana has had a Democrat for governor in living memory (Evan Bayh), a Democrat in the senate relatively recently (Joe Donnelly) and it went for Obama in 2008, so it's not as red as it seems. And, of course, Pete Buttigieg was mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
People (especially dnc leadership) are way to quick to write states off as "red" and then just don't try.
Or they run someone that would have been a Republican 20 years ago and don't understand why it's not working.
If people wanted conservative policy, they'd vote Republican. Running two conservatives just means lots of people won't vote. Because the result is either bad or terrible.
Give people a candidate that they want. And more people vote. The more people vote, the less likely a Republican wins. Even in "red states".
The issue is the party has abandoned voters.
Despite what I said above about Sakbun, it is pretty surprising he was able to unseat Duke Bennett, who handily won multiple elections and was in office the entire time I've been here, which is about 10 years. I do attribute it to people being fed up with Republicans, especially since this town is heavily populated by union members. We have a whole bunch of union halls and people with 'union strong' signs outside their houses. That didn't stop them from voting Republican in the past, but maybe they've finally realized that Republicans have done nothing for them.
That said, Indiana has had a Democrat for governor in living memory (Evan Bayh), a Democrat in the senate relatively recently (Joe Donnelly) and it went for Obama in 2008, so it's not as red as it seems. And, of course, Pete Buttigieg was mayor of South Bend, Indiana.