Meet Joe Manchin's primary opponent, Paula Swearengin. You're gonna like her!

[Eccho]

Just learning this week about Paula Swearengin running against Manchin in primary. She is described as a coal miner's daughter and environmental activist. She sounds very down to earth and seems to be itching for a political fight with Trump. Paula seems like the perfect antidote to Manchin. The odds of getting out Manchin aren't good, of course, but Paula may be able to give him a good fight and get him to shift left some if nothing else. I'm excited to see how she does and what's she's like in person on the campaign trail.

I came out of posting retirement to ask everyone at DU to follow her on twitter @paulajean2018. I know of no better place to spread the word and maybe we can help get some excitement going about her. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Edited to add
:large

[Jacquette]

1. Any relation

to Al, from Deadwood?

[bathroommonkey76]

2. My first thought.

[superpatriotman]

13. We're gonna hear a lot of 'c*cksucker' bandied about if so

Personally I welcome a further degrading of our political discourse.

[nycbos]

3. Hell no

Losing Manchin would hand the seat to the Republicans.

I know we don't like him but I thought Trump
taught us the worst Dem is better than the best Republican now.

[Eccho]

4. Yes, but

If Evan Jenkins (former Dem and current congressman who announced his run this week too) proves to be the front runner for the Republican side, then he is very vulnerable because he voted for AHCA. Numbers are coming out that 176k West Virginians were put on medicare expansion under ACA, and if we switch to AHCA, then it will cost the state 8 billion a year. Numbers like that will not help Jenkins in a state where the governor (Democrat btw) is telling us that we are in a financial "death spiral".

It really just depends on how committed Democrats are in the midterm. It can't hurt in forcing Manchin to make a firm stance on Planned Parenthood and other issues. I certainly don't understand the political calculus that would make anyone dismiss her out of hand. This state may be red now, but it loves it's entitlements and when the money starts going, they can just as easily switch right back. Remember, Manchin holds Robert Byrds old seat. Byrd appropriation chairmanship allowed him to pour countless projects and money into the state for decades, which doesn't happen now.

[stevenleser]

8. So we would get another Republican 6 years from now and lose the seat for decades at that point.

No thanks.

Manchin is annoying, but a Republican in that slot would be much more so.

WVa is a very conservative state. We are lucky we have any Democrat at all in a statewide position there.

[Eccho]

15. Why would we get another Republican?

These have been Democratically controlled Senate seats in WV for decades till Capito.

[stevenleser]

19. What about that question and its obvious answer don't you get? nt

[guillaumeb]

28. It is not a question, and the so-called obvious answer is merely your guess.

Going by your logic, no Southern Democrat should ever be challenged because the GOP will forever be in control of the South. A recipe for the Democrats to be a permanent minority party confined to the coasts and large urban areas.

[stevenleser]

31. No, and no.

There are plenty of southern states where Democrats have a stronger chance than WVa and thus it isn't political suicide to do what OP is proposing.

The Carolinas and Virginia are three states that immediately come to mind.

[guillaumeb]

35. So heavily gerrymandered N. Carolina is suddenly in play?

And Virginia, like many states, is divided along rural/urban lines. Given the historically weak Democratic turnout, and given GOP success at voter suppression, 2018 will be a struggle.

[dsc]

38. The Senate seats aren't gerrymandered

Burr is retiring. I think we have a 50/50 shot at winning his seat in 2020.

[stevenleser]

42. You beat me to it. nt

[Dustlawyer]

53. +1!!! THIS

A primary battle will get Democratic issues talked about early helping to sway the electorate our way. It won't just be Republican issues being discussed during the Primary season. I know from experience, we used to never see campaign commercials here in our deep red part of the state. Once Obama, Hillary and Bernie started running campaign commercials here and locals heard a different argument or a different subject that Republicans do not talk about, things have started to come around. It's what makes a 50 state strategy work.

[stevenleser]

59. -1, No. nt

[BannonsLiver]

16. C'mon an environmentalist running in WVA? She's a shoe-in.

(in case it's needed)

[stevenleser]

20. I really wonder about some of these folks.

I'm guessing as kids they lost every game they ever played that required even the most rudimentary snippet of strategy.

[JI7]

27. And one of the biggest reasons democrats have lost in this area

It's not trade but environmental regulations these people complain about.

[pnwmom]

23. We lost most of our "Dinos" to the Rethugs, having helped some of them out with primary attacks.

No, thanks. We should have learned our lesson by now.

[mvd]

25. No, they lost on their own

They couldn't distinguish themselves enough. In W. Va., the Party has ollowed the coal company line while still being branded with the Obama admin. by the Repukes. The Repukes lied, but it happened. I am firmly for the challenge.

[stevenleser]

34. That is just a lazy argument. Plenty of progressives have run in those states and been shellacked.

Every election, in fact, you have a few progressives who are running against Republicans in very red districts and states and get destroyed. There is plenty that distinguishes them from their opponents. The electorate in those districts and states don't care.

[mvd]

26. I'm with you and always will be

The votes for Sessions and for the climate destroyer Pruitt were't acceptable no matter where you are.

[sheshe2]

52. Yes but???

You answered this post...

Hell no

Losing Manchin would hand the seat to the Republicans.

I know we don't like him but I thought Trump
taught us the worst Dem is better than the best Republican now.

Yes but?

Manchin votes with Dems. He is in a red state yet he votes with Democrats.

[Hortensis]

58. Exactly! In a heavily red state Manchin votes with Dems.

That is a real achievement, and Manchin is a real asset who needs to be protected.

It seems many may be seriously overestimating potential conservative support for progressive populism.

Very significant percentages of the conservatives who voted for Bernie in the primaries of those states where they could did so as Clinton spoilers. Exit polls consistently revealed many had absolutely no intention of voting for him in the general if he won.

Sure, as a charismatic left-wing populist leader, Bernie did pick up some genuine conservative support, but exit polls and studies show that it was fatally smaller than imagined. As it almost certainly would be in any attempt to fill Manchin's seat with someone running on similar positions.

[mvd]

5. Sounds good. If she takes off and upsets him..

it would be a good sign for W. Va. and a change in the Party there. If she loses, then we hope Manchin beats the Repuke, but he'll hear the message.

[SecularMotion]

6. This will not help the Democratic Party to take back Congress in 2018

We need to challenge vulnerable Republican seats, not weaken safe Democratic seats.

[Eccho]

7. What if Manchin switches parties after the election? Or even before?

His only Republican opponent so far is Evan Jenkins who switched from Democrat to a very enthusiastic and loyal Republican. She is running a very liberal agenda with the backing of Sander's organization to get new Democrats in office. Doesn't she deserve some of our consideration?

[stevenleser]

10. What if every Democrat switches and Republicans have every seat?

What good are what if scenarios?

[Eccho]

12. Are you in WV?

Because I am. Jay Rockefeller and Robert Byrd were Senators and Manchin the governor in the last decade. This is only very recently a Republican state with the help of a lot of Koch brother money and coal mining promises. I can appreciate not wanting to see Manchin primaried from people outside of the state, but we are in a crisis here and we need help. All I am asking is people take a look at her candidacy. I didn't expect mocking hostility though.

[stevenleser]

18. Is there something besides residence there that you think makes you an expert?

I am not a fan of people who take actions that threaten to reduce the amount of Democrats in the House and Senate.

The fact that a few Democrats won in the last decade can be said of every state in the union.

It's not a convincing argument.

[guillaumeb]

29. The Sanders connection is toxic for some at DU.

And the logic that the GOP has a natural lock on the South is electoral defeatism at best. A recipe for permanent minority status.

[stevenleser]

33. Sure, you can always make an argument sound bad when you use a strawman version of it. nt

[guillaumeb]

36. No strawman argument.

It is abundantly clear from the debate at DU that many here are vehemently opposed both to Sanders Democrats and to the idea that Democrats should never be challenged in Southern and Western states.

[stevenleser]

41. Its a strawman. No one ever said no Democrat should ever be challenged in a Southern or Western

state. That is your strawman.

[guillaumeb]

63. Which leads inevitably to your earlier comment.

#8

[stevenleser]

68. Nope, I wrote a comment about a specific situation, you made a strawman out of it. nt

[SecularMotion]

11. Could Democrats Nominate Their Own Christine ODonnell in 2018?

There are already signs groups with similar goals are popping up to support Democrats. Brand New Congress’ recruit to take on Joe Manchin in West Virginia is a political neophyte who will run in a primary electorate that will be largely hostile towards anyone to Manchin’s left (in fact, Manchin is probably about as vulnerable to a primary challenge *from the right* as he is from the left — which is not very). The operation reeks of an effort to harvest dollars from energized small money donors. Similarly, Justice Democrats, a new left-wing pressure group started by some former Sanders staffers and Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks, has backed Cori Bush in Missouri’s 1st district against longtime incumbent Lacy Clay. Bush ran for Senate finishing a distant 2nd to Jason Kander in the 2016 primary, but scouring her online presence, I found no mention of her opponent (and no real rationale for running). A seat like Clay’s would never be vulnerable to a Republican, but Democrats could be throwing away money better spent on a competitive seat in hopes of throwing out an incumbent with a strong progressive voting record — all while lining the pockets of consulting groups.

https://decisiondeskhq.com/upcoming-races/could-democrats-nominate-their-own-christine-odonnell-in-2018/

[mvd]

14. I don't agree with that at all.

Repukes challenge their own all the time. I want the party more left. I do not mind primary challengers and it can only help IMO. If Manchin wins, then that is who W. Va. has chosen. It doesn't mean we forget about challenging Repukes.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

60. And what has usually happened?

Republicans lost a solid lock on Richard Lugar's Senate seat in Indiana in 2012 because of a right-wing purity challenge. The seat had been his for a LONG time until he lost in the primary and he regularly won Republican and Democratic votes. I'm sure that there are other good examples of self-defeating primary bids.

[nycbos]

17. Defiantly not

The last thing we need is a left wing version of the tea party. Ideological party cost of the election. Too many people on the left didn't vote because they "could't see the difference"

A progressive is not going to win statewide.

And for the record not all Bernie people are good people. NEW YORK STATE SENATOR Marisol Alcantara was a Sanders delegate in 2016.

She became a New York State Senator but is currently allied with the Independent Democratic Conference that caucuses with the Republicans in the NY State Senat.e

[Proud Liberal Dem]

65. If Manchin was going to switch parties

Right after last election (or in 2014) would have been the best time to do so. He didn't wind up switching, so evidently he either didn't want to or think it would have been a good idea. Now that Trump/GOP is rapidly becoming toxic, there would seem to be little motivation after 2018 for him to switch.

[stevenleser]

9. I know, this is just ridiculous. nt

[oasis]

21. Dems are in no position to risk a sure seat to a far lefty who

would likely lose, but not before damaging Manchin's chances with a negative primary campaign.

[Jim Lane]

40. I wouldn't assume it would damage Manchin's chances

If he fends off a primary challenge from the left, that could improve his standing in the general election. He would be positioned between Swearingen on the left and the Republican on the right. A lot of voters seem to think that the middle of the road is best just because it's the middle.

[stevenleser]

44. Of course it would. We have seen this movie before, haven't we?

"Manchin is a corporate so and so!"

"He is in bed with X, Y, Z hated entity"

"He took money from A, B and C companies"

Yeah, no reason to think that would hurt him.

[oasis]

45. Depending on the degree of negative campaigning Manchin's opponent

is willing to engage in. And we can't rule out the possibility of far left elements who may choose to go rogue and push out fake stories on Swearingen's behalf.

[JI7]

22. LOL

[brooklynite]

24. Great! Explain how a Berniecrat will win in a General Election.

[phleshdef]

30. I grew up in WV, am very tuned in to the politics there.

She has zero chance in a general election. None.

[wildeyed]

43. Right??

I'm not from WV, but been there enough to know better. People here.... I dunno. Many seem to think every place is just like the place they live, and if we give red state peeps a good, long talking too, they will all agree with us just like that!

That said, anyone has a right to run in a primary.

[JI7]

49. what are her chances in the Primary ?

[GeoWilliam750]

32. Meet Joe Manchin's daughter

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_Bresch

Also, from Wiki on Senator Manchin

"Party-switching

As the 2016 elections approached, many reports speculated that Manchin would lose his loyalty to his party and switch to Republican if the Senate was in a 50-50 tie.[76] This is due to him already being conservative-leaning, which many Democrats have criticized him for.[77] However, he later stated that he would stay with the Democratic Party for at least how long he stays in the Senate.[78] Manchin was the only Democrat to vote in confirmation of controversial Trump cabinet appointees Jeff Sessions[79] and Steven Mnuchin,[80] one of two Democrats who voted to confirm Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator, and one of three who voted to confirm Rex Tillerson.[81]"

[Staph]

46. Message deleted by DU the Administrators

[Thinkingabout]

37. What is Sanders trying to do? Why is he campaigning for whomever is running against the incumbant

who is a democrat? When I see action like this it makes me wonder why we ever allowed Sanders to run on the DNC ticket. Yes he needed the DNC organization but he has abused the DNC, if he wants his own party then he needs to start it and quit trying to destroy the DNC.

[bettyellen]

50. I don't think he's done using the DNC, this is bizarre...

[Foamfollower]

39. After what you added, I oppose her and will support Manchin in the primary.

[Stinky The Clown]

47. What a great idea. Primary a Diem and hand it to the GOPee. No Thanks!

[bottomofthehill]

48. Run for the House

Instead of primarying a democrat, she could try to take back a house seat and test her message with out doing harm up the ticket. She could run for Rayhalls old seat

[Jno_Gilmor_]

55. I actually really like this idea!

[bottomofthehill]

57. I don't think her message sells in West VA

Maybe her message would sell in Northern VA, I like her, her ideas and where she stands based on what I have just seen, but until she tests her message where she is, and proves that it can sell, I would hope that she would refrain from hurting the chances of taking back the Senate.

There are 3 Republican congressional districts. I am not sure which one she lives in, but it really does not matter, pick it and win it, then run against the Republican Senator.

[JHan]

56. +++++

[JI7]

51. this is where over 40 percent of democrats voted for a prison inmate over Obama

[Tatiana]

54. It would take a miracle for her to beat Manchin.

I don't know much about WV politics, but I know Manchin has broad name recognition. I'm not necessarily opposed to the introduction of some left-leaning ideals into the WV political atmosphere. Lord knows a state that voted 68% for Trump needs some outreach. The status quo is not helping. Jay Rockefeller is gone. It would help if we could groom some qualified candidates to run for elective office there. The University of WV is excellent and I know several colleagues who graduated from there and regularly return to lead health and education outreach efforts to rural communities.

Manchin is an A-hole, but I think he can handle a no-name opponent. The DNC should step in to encourage respectful rhetoric, if necessary.

[Demsrule86]

61. No I don't like her...primarying Manchin in a red state is the height of stupidity.

if Swearengin wins, she loses a general in West Virginia as her views are way to liberal for this state, and if she lose the primary, as I think she will, she weakens Manchin at a time we desperately need to re-take the Senate in order to stop Trump's judicial picks...this is stupid...a truly lose-lose move by those who apparently don't think taking the Senate is important and who don't worry about 30 years of right wing court decisions.

[alarimer]

62. I expect Manchin to switch parties if the Democrats get 51 Senators

To shift it back to Republican control. Right now, he has no leverage. It makes little difference if the Democrats have 47 or 48 Senators. But if they have 51, he would be courted by the Republicans to get control back. It would make it 50/50, with Pence being the deciding vote, so they would still technically have the majority.

So I agree that getting rid of Manchin is a good idea. The threat to switch parties is always there, especially with a very slim majority. If the Democrats end up with more than 51 seats in 2018, it doesn't matter if Manchin loses or not. I say good riddance. And if they stay where they are, it doesn't matter anyway.

I say good riddance.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

66. If Democrats win the majority and he is really "on the fence"

he STILL has leverage......with the Democrats ("Give me a chairmanship" if you want to keep me" or something like that). I guess it would be a question of which party he wants in power more, but most people (I think) would rather be part of the majority and why would he, a Democrat, want to switch to the GOP to put them BACK in power. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I mean, what stopped him from switching in 2014 or 2016 if he really wanted to be part of the GOP and they won the majority in both elections? He may vote the Republicans sometimes, but he still votes mainly with the Democrats and he doesn't seem particularly motivated to switch sides. There have been more fortuitous opportunities for him to switch in the recent past and he obviously must have some attachment to staying as a member of the Democratic Party.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

64. Does she have a statehouse or Congressional seat she could run for first?

IMHO we need to build up a crop of candidates from a local level and build their experience and name recognition before somebody just springboards into a potentially larger race that they may be ill-equipped to win. Does she have the kind of name recognition to win a statewide race? Who are the Republicans running? She can obviously run but her bid seems unlikely to be successful and her time, energy, and money would probably be better spent at a local level first. Just my $0.02.

[MineralMan]

67. Yah, best of luck to her in her campaign.

Many people file to run. Few are chosen.