Another Primary Day
August 4th Primaries
The time has come to see what each region decides for itself. This cycle has been a wakeup call that voters aren't looking for the same things or the same people anymore. The threat of another Trump presidency has arrived and been experienced. Those who sounded the alarm remain defiant yet face still lots of party disputes that the obstacles Democrats face stem from a lack of clear, vocal opposition and a feeling that candidates have lost their fight.
A growing narrative challenges the establishment, framing it as the root of many current problems. The argument goes that if only more had been done, and different policy priorities focused on different communities had been chosen, we wouldn't be facing today's crises.
The primaries are where these arguments get settled. Personally, I wish these debates had been handled early on within local, regional, and state parties to establish clear messaging and a solid ground game. But, as usual, we’re a day late and a dollar short. Now, the direction of the Democratic Party is up for a vote. I just hope we all stick together in the end and actually turn out. With the threats facing all of us, it's disheartening when we can't compromise, choosing to see rivals instead of allies with different ideas. I'd much rather see us as the latter.
Strategies
Michigan A state that no single faction can claim to control has plenty of races to watch. Quite a few outgoing Democrats have chosen to end their congressional careers rather than face a challenging primary.
US Senate Outgoing Senator Gary Peters is leaving with an endorsement of current US Rep. Haley Stevens. Described as a moderate, Rep. Stevens has a track record of challenging the Trump administration and building her reputation as a strong advocate for Michigan.
Abdul El-Sayed is a young professional who pivoted from medicine to public health. While this background is usually well-regarded within the party, his campaign serves as a critique of the standard Democratic playbook of simply reacting to events. El-Sayed champions policies aimed at removing roadblocks for the working and middle class, and he is highly skeptical of a US foreign policy that has long enjoyed bipartisan support. His lack of prior elected experience might be a factor, but voters who feel left behind by the Democratic Party see him as a strong ally. We can set aside his DSA affiliation for now, as he hasn't centered his campaign on it. Instead, he has been busy reaching out to aligned communities and commentators through alternative media.
A major focus of this race is that it has become heavily funded by outside groups, playing right into El-Sayed's focus on election reform. From his perspective, the massive influx of money isn't necessarily about stopping him; it's about backing Stevens, who those outside interests might view as a more influenceable candidate.
House 7th District Two moderates are facing off to represent Lansing. It’s a matchup of regular Democrats against a progressive challenger to determine who will take on the GOP's Tom Barrett.
House 11th District State Senate President pro tempore Jeremy Moss faces a populist outsider from Ford Motor Company. This challenger has injected the issue of AIPAC donations to Moss into the conversation, keeping campaign finance reform front and center. Meanwhile, Aisha Farooqi, a lawyer backed by Rep. Ro Khanna, is running further to the left of Moss.
House 13th District Rep. Shri Thanedar, a rare incumbent in this cycle, is facing another primary challenge from progressives. State Rep. Donovan McKinney has secured backing from the DSA and Justice Democrats. In an unusual shakeup, the Congressional Black Caucus broke with Democratic leadership to endorse McKinney as well.
Missouri We're seeing a rematch of the 2024 battle as ousted Squad member Cori Bush seeks to challenge Wesley Bell again. Bush continues to frame herself as a vocal fighter and community advocate. Bell, on the other hand, highlights his support for Democratic policies while emphasizing his ability to strike deals that benefit St. Louis, even as Trump wages war on "blue" states.
Washington A Democratic Party bulwark that has weathered some recent hardship is heading to the polls—thankfully, mostly by mail, given the ongoing issues many people are facing.
House 3rd District This race features Blue Dog Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's re-election bid. She frequently breaks with the party to vote with the GOP on border security, ICE, and military issues. She faces a challenge from both the right, in GOP Senate Minority Leader John Braun, and the left, in Democrat Brent Hennrich.
House 9th District Incumbent Rep. Adam Smith is being challenged from the far-left by former Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant.
Party directions
With the potential for upsets across the board, these primaries are shaping up to be a major indicator of whether voters are demanding bolder strategies and policies for the next session. We all watched the "American Carnage" that Donald Trump and his base sought to unleash upon our Republic. The direction we need to take, and the pace at which we need to move, are being decided very quickly right now.