General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPrimary voters, not the DNC/DCCC, are responsible for imposing litmus tests on our candidates.
Maybe people have lost track about how elections work in this country, but our Democrstic Congressional candidates are not chosen by by Ben Lujan or Tom Perez or Nancy Pelosi.
They're chosen by Democratic primary voters in their local districts.
The DNC's job, and the DCCC's job,is to help nominees win the general election. That's it. Elect Democrats, not determine which Democrats are better on the issues.
It's the job of primary voters to pick the candidate who most closely reflects their values while providing the best chance to win.
So it's downright silly to expect the DCCC to try to tell primary voters who to choose, or to play favorites amongst primary winners based on ideology or any number of issues instead of helping the most Democratic candidates win.
If people are really bothered by the fact that Democratic primary winners in conservative districts tend to be more conservative, there's an app for that--local activism.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)So only if people are willing to attend the political meetings, often for months and years, and get elected to positions on the various committees, will any change take place.
I think that the Indivisible groups that sprang up are wonderful, but if they think that change will take place relatively quickly I feel that they will be disappointed.
leftstreet
(36,076 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)staying out of primaries.
BigmanPigman
(51,430 posts)why are certain states chosen to be the first to hold primary elections and not others. How did this get started and why do we still follow it? Iowa and New Hampshire determine the primary candidates before more populous states like CA which is last.
crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)And the only time they will get involved in a primary is if there's a toxic candidate that they need to stop to win the race. Remember their goal is to take the majority in Congress by winning races.
Many of the times they will have conversations about candidates or try to recruit top-tier candidates (ie a popular state senator). There are also benchmarks (mostly fundraising) that a candidate must meet before they'll support him/her.
(I'm a campaign staffer who was trained by the DCCC twice).
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Vinca
(50,168 posts)If a candidate can't pay to get their message out, the primary voters don't know whether to impose a litmus test or not.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Their job is not to spend on behalf of candidates in primary races.
crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)Their focus is on the general (November) elections, not primaries.
THey do have tests for candidates. That is measured by their fundraising abilities. If they don't show they can raise $$ they won't get any help.