Moderate David Crowley won the Wisconsin Democratic primary for governor, defeating a democratic socialist who fell short by less than 1% of the votes cast. Crowley will face Republican Tom Tiffany in November to be the next governor.
Aaaaalmost. The future of the US are democratic socialist policies if you want universal healthcare, corporate and organization money out of politics, health and environmental regulations based on science, safety regulations in the workplace, economic equality, i.e, affordability, for the non-millionaires, and graduated higher taxes on the wealthiest 5-10% in assets. First, vote for any Democrat, unless they're a feckless Fetterman, to get Republicans out of power. Then watch the tide turn for progressives against corporate centrists and moderates. Progressives are reading the room, even in rural areas.
Simon Rosenberg is a long-time Democratic political strategist and hosts The Hopium Chronicles on Substack. Here is Simon’s takeaway on recent Democratic primaries:
💙 A Black gubernatorial nominee in Wisconsin. A native woman is now our Senate nominee in Minnesota. A Muslim man is our Senate nominee in Michigan. A moderate, “Establishment Democrat” is our nominee for Governor in Minnesota. A younger mayor unseated an incumbent House Member in Connecticut. Party backed candidates won House primaries all across the country……
My big takeaway from the last few weeks is that Democrats are “embracing the rainbow,” a phrase we use here that describes an approach to pluralistic politics that welcomes - and embraces - the broad diversity of our coalition, and of our nation. For a coalition to be healthy over time every part of the coalition needs to get wins, and boy oh boy has every part of our coalition had wins in recent months.
My hope is that whatever type of Democrat you are you can see yourself in the Democratic leaders who have emerged in the past year, giving you a reason to enthusiastically vote this November. We’ve talked here about the need for the Democratic Party to evolve, grow, improve, and to build our next thing. I think we can say now looking back at the elections over the past 19 months that we are seeing a new Democratic Party emerging, something that feels fresh, different, younger, more dynamic, and just better.
In a change election it has become important that Democrats be seen as changing too. And we are. And this perception that we are changing will make us more appealing, and more likely to win this November. 💙
Barry, if you haven’t yet, please subscribe to The Hopium Chronicles on Substack (free option available). Simon is an excellent host and strategist, and the Hopium community is very active in getting quality Democrats elected in 2026 and beyond.
That’s a tough question. In the primary, I would vote for the Democrat challenging the DINO. If the DINO still wins, then voting for him/her in the general election would be like voting for a Republican, which I have never done in my life. Thankfully I have never had to make that decision.
Again, this is why I don't trust polls. they tell you what you think you want to hear, until the vote tells you something else. Harris, Hilary. When will we learn to ignore all the polls and just vote. I'm starting to think that polls are like insurance companies. They exist to protect your belief in something good, but when you have to make a claim, they say - sorry - we're not paying for that.
The repubs were in undisguised joy over her candidacy and looked forward to papering her views as that of all democrats. The ads would write themselves .. instead of that the election will be about all the damage trump and his gang have done to working people. That is the race we want to run.
I would love to know if the fact she was female or Asian affected her candidacy. Just curious because, I feel that was one of the causes for VP Kamela. Which in 2026, makes me upset that an electorate would pick a male over a female, even if she was better. Just thinking out loud. 😔
Aaaaalmost. The future of the US are democratic socialist policies if you want universal healthcare, corporate and organization money out of politics, health and environmental regulations based on science, safety regulations in the workplace, economic equality, i.e, affordability, for the non-millionaires, and graduated higher taxes on the wealthiest 5-10% in assets. First, vote for any Democrat, unless they're a feckless Fetterman, to get Republicans out of power. Then watch the tide turn for progressives against corporate centrists and moderates. Progressives are reading the room, even in rural areas.
Thanks, Barry, for this excellent analysis!
Simon Rosenberg is a long-time Democratic political strategist and hosts The Hopium Chronicles on Substack. Here is Simon’s takeaway on recent Democratic primaries:
💙 A Black gubernatorial nominee in Wisconsin. A native woman is now our Senate nominee in Minnesota. A Muslim man is our Senate nominee in Michigan. A moderate, “Establishment Democrat” is our nominee for Governor in Minnesota. A younger mayor unseated an incumbent House Member in Connecticut. Party backed candidates won House primaries all across the country……
My big takeaway from the last few weeks is that Democrats are “embracing the rainbow,” a phrase we use here that describes an approach to pluralistic politics that welcomes - and embraces - the broad diversity of our coalition, and of our nation. For a coalition to be healthy over time every part of the coalition needs to get wins, and boy oh boy has every part of our coalition had wins in recent months.
My hope is that whatever type of Democrat you are you can see yourself in the Democratic leaders who have emerged in the past year, giving you a reason to enthusiastically vote this November. We’ve talked here about the need for the Democratic Party to evolve, grow, improve, and to build our next thing. I think we can say now looking back at the elections over the past 19 months that we are seeing a new Democratic Party emerging, something that feels fresh, different, younger, more dynamic, and just better.
In a change election it has become important that Democrats be seen as changing too. And we are. And this perception that we are changing will make us more appealing, and more likely to win this November. 💙
This is so god1 I'm going to steal some lines for the next article!!
Barry, if you haven’t yet, please subscribe to The Hopium Chronicles on Substack (free option available). Simon is an excellent host and strategist, and the Hopium community is very active in getting quality Democrats elected in 2026 and beyond.
Unless it’s a DINO like Fetterman. 😖
Then who do you vote for?
That’s a tough question. In the primary, I would vote for the Democrat challenging the DINO. If the DINO still wins, then voting for him/her in the general election would be like voting for a Republican, which I have never done in my life. Thankfully I have never had to make that decision.
I have always thought that the Democrats in the US would be considered a right wing party here in Canada.
They would.
Again, this is why I don't trust polls. they tell you what you think you want to hear, until the vote tells you something else. Harris, Hilary. When will we learn to ignore all the polls and just vote. I'm starting to think that polls are like insurance companies. They exist to protect your belief in something good, but when you have to make a claim, they say - sorry - we're not paying for that.
Good analogy.
The repubs were in undisguised joy over her candidacy and looked forward to papering her views as that of all democrats. The ads would write themselves .. instead of that the election will be about all the damage trump and his gang have done to working people. That is the race we want to run.
We can keep our fingers crossed, but I think you are right...the damage from Trump is the key.
I souldn’t read too much into the ideology. Hong lost because she was a flawed, undisciplined candidate without support from Bernie. I wonder why.
Yes, true, but even so, she almost won. There is SUCH a desire for change...
I would love to know if the fact she was female or Asian affected her candidacy. Just curious because, I feel that was one of the causes for VP Kamela. Which in 2026, makes me upset that an electorate would pick a male over a female, even if she was better. Just thinking out loud. 😔
Good questions, and love your attitude to the sexist element.
This stinks of vote rigging. So did El Syed’s near miss in Minnesota. I suspect the exit polls are going to support this.