[ad_1]
Brown’s victory in the primary, which equates to the general election in this dark blue seat in northeastern Ohio, ends a controversial summer of infighting for Democrats over their party’s leadership with Joe Biden at the White House. Establishment forces are leaving the race with a plan for how to dampen the progressive enthusiasm of this cycle. The result is another setback for the liberal wing, which has struggled to secure victories this year.
Turner, a former Ohio state senator who became a chief surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential nominations, entered the special as a well-known figure with enormous financial benefit; her own internal poll at the end of May had it with 50% of the vote, and she had the backing of Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.) and the Justice Democrats, a leading progressive group .
But this notoriety was perhaps as much a hindrance as an asset for Turner. His impassioned speeches on behalf of progressive politics have earned him cult status on the left, but his tendency to target fellow Democrats has earned him more than a few enemies.
Brown, a board member and chairman of the Democratic Party in Cuyahoga County, is a protégé of former incumbent Marcia Fudge, who stepped down from the seat to serve as Biden’s housing secretary. Among his boosters were Hillary Clinton, who thwarted Sanders for the 2016 presidential nomination; Jewish Democrats are wary of Turner’s comments on Israel; and leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (DS.C.) and President Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio).
To curb Turner’s initial momentum, Brown’s allies bombarded the airwaves with commercials prompting Turner’s unfavorable comments about the Democratic Party. (Some spots included a now notorious interview with Turner comparing voting for Joe Biden to consuming excrement.) The Democratic Majority super PAC for Israel was the biggest spender, losing nearly $ 1 million on television to stimulate Brown.
The CBC, eager to prevent Liberal insurgents from defying their own members in the primaries, moved all-in for Brown. Their political arm officially endorsed it, and Beatty, Clyburn and Rep. Gregory Meeks (DN.Y.) and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) Spent the last weekend of the race taking the district by storm. , which includes parts of Cleveland and Akron.
Their brutal involvement sparked protests from confused progressives as to why the group would get involved in an open-seat race between two black women. But the caucus took particular shade during an exchange in June between Turner and rapper Killer Mike, in which the two suggested that Clyburn had not taken enough of Biden’s return in return for his powerful support for his campaign. presidential. Clyburn approved and cut an advertisement for Brown shortly thereafter.
For progressives, it’s another stinging loss after their candidates failed in off-year nomination contests in Virginia, New York and Louisiana, raising fears they lost some of his urgency with Donald Trump out. of its functions. And Turner’s leading role in the movement – and the early perks inherent in it – make the result even more painful.
The race brought together several establishment forces within the party, including pro-Israel groups and the centrist organization Third Way – partnerships that will likely continue throughout the cycle. The redistribution will create a strip of open seats on which the different ideological factions will clash. But it’s worth noting that the moderate attacks on Turner have not targeted the progressive proposals she supports, such as Medicare-for-all or a Green New Deal – an indication that they are popular with the grassroots.
It might not be so easy for the establishment to demolish a progressive candidate with a slimmer public record. Turner was a staple of cable television and could not restrain his distaste for Clinton and Biden and the leadership of the Democratic Party. This left behind a wealth of footage that his detractors used to cut commercials.
[ad_2]
Source link