Hey, Democrats, Maybe You Should Run Someone Against Jeff Flake

[octoberlib]

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona is unpopular — really unpopular. According to a poll about all 100 senators released Tuesday by Morning Consult, just 37 percent of registered voters in Arizona approve of their junior senator, compared with 45 percent who disapprove. That gives Flake a net approval rating1 of -8 percentage points, the worst of any senator. (Sen. John McCain, also of Arizona, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky both have higher disapproval ratings but better net approval ratings.)

Usually, polling numbers like that would be a big warning sign for a senator who is up for re-election in 2018, as Flake is. And yet, the Democratic field in the race doesn’t include anyone who has held elected office or a high government position (a common measure of candidate quality).

Democrats’ failure (at least so far) to field a strong candidate against Flake could hurt their already small chance of retaking the Senate in 2018. As I discussed Monday, the Senate map is very favorable for Republicans in 2018: Just eight Republican-held seats are up for re-election — out of the 52 they hold overall — and Democrats have to win at least three of them to regain a majority. Arizona looks like one of the best opportunities for Democrats to pick up a seat — if they can find someone willing to run.



https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/hey-democrats-maybe-you-should-run-someone-against-jeff-flake/?ex_cid=story-twitter

[Raster]

1. I live in Arizona and I would BE THRILLED TO DEATH if we had a good candidate to challenge...

...and beat Senator Flakey. I'd love to see that smirk wiped off of his face and Flakey returned to the unemployment line. And you are correct, some of my more moderate GOP friends here in Arizona are not happy with Flakey.

[VermontKevin]

8. Since you live there, what do you think of the 2 declared? Also, Kirkpatrick and Kelly?

[beam me up scottie]

2. Kicked and highly recommended!

I don't know much about her but how about Ann Kirkpatrick?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Kirkpatrick

This is what we should focus on - taking seats away from Republicans, not primarying our sitting senators and risking their seats.

[bettyellen]

3. Lemme guess two reasons why Deedra Abboud isn't "someone" who's existence should be acknowledged....

Have heard there's another two women and a man's name being floated. But since the filing date is late, let's pretend Dems are doing nothing. Such a fun game.

[VermontKevin]

6. It's like google doesn't exist.

[octoberlib]

7. I don't live in Arizona so have no idea about who's running but this statement from

the article "the Democratic field in the race doesn’t include anyone who has held elected office or a high government position (a common measure of candidate quality). " doesn't seem to apply to Republicans. I'm fine with anybody who has a chance to win and supports our platform.

[VermontKevin]

9. Here ya' go.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_Arizona,_2018

[octoberlib]

13. Thanks ! I do know how to google, I just didn't do it before I posted this article. My mistake.

[bettyellen]

10. There's two people and at least one other rep who already has a fundraising PAC who's likely running

So it's bizarre the headline was written that way. Not faulting you, but any time I see a headline that says "why aren't Dems doing x?" It turns out they are doing x- and suddenly it's why not x y and z? It's a game the press is all too happy to play.

If the article was why don't they have a candidate I really like, that might be a little more honest. As it is, it's not.

[former9thward]

11. Both of whom have no name recognition in AZ.

Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (CD-9) is the only Democrat who can beat Flake. She declined to run against McCain last year and she has declined to run against Flake next year. The filing date has nothing to do with it. If you wait until the filing date or anything close to it to start campaigning in AZ you might as well not start.

[bettyellen]

15. Is it honest to say no one when there are actually a few people running?

I know they qualify it later, but they also never mention the candidates and again say no ones running. It's not accurate, nor is it at all informative. No wonder they have no name recognition- that's going to happen when people publish crap like this.

[Warren DeMontague]

4. Is Charles Barkley still a Republican?

I bet they like him in Arizona.

[VermontKevin]

5. They are. Deedra Abboud and Chris Russell are in the Dem primary.

[StevieM]

12. It amazes me that people fault Hillary for targeting Arizona.

It was a winnable state. We did better there than in Ohio and Iowa. And we would have won it had it not been for the Comey intervention 11 days before the election.

[octoberlib]

14. +1