The Democratic Party is eyeing ruby red southern states it believes it can take in next year’s midterm elections, according to a report.
Historically way out of reach states including Texas our now being considering in-play for Democratic Party candidates who see an opening with moderates sickened by Trump, Politico reported Tuesday.
And Republicans battling through “eat-their-own primaries” in the same areas are handing their opponents more ammunition, according to the report.
As an example, the report cites Texas’ state Attorney General Ken Paxton and his fight with fellow Republican Sen. John Cornyn. In Georgia, it points to a packed field of Republicans trying to oust Sen. Jon Ossoff.
“A new class of Democratic leaders in the South are pitching voters on their party’s proposals to lower costs and increase wages, while casting blame on Republicans for an unsettled economy under President Donald Trump,” the report stated.
“They say that strategy is key not just for the midterms, but part of solving an existential threat for Democrats if they want to stand a chance in coming years at regaining national power.”
Insiders in the Democratic Party are also warning that failing to put up a strong showing in the midterms could be disastrous for the party after the 2030 Census — population shifts across the South promise extra congressional and Electoral College seats in those states.
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“The fix, according to a dozen Democratic leaders in the South, is to refocus the Democratic Party on the economy and border security — two areas of strength historically for the GOP,” Politico reported.
Democrats must “do everything we can to show that when we get out of bed in the morning, we eat glass to fight back and protect the working people of this state,” said Kendall Scudder, the head of the Texas Democratic Party
In Georgia, the party’s head, Charlie Bailey, told Politico, Republicans “ know they’re being screwed. My job as the chair is to make sure they know who to blame.”
“Republicans are claiming the far right, Democrats have an opportunity to claim everything else. Voters may be hungry for change by the time we get to the elections next year,” said Georgia Democratic strategist Amy Morton.