The Trump Effect: Seven candidates fight for a nomination no Democrat wanted in 2016.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Speeches underway at #PA18 Dem convention. Seven candidates fighting for a nomination no Democrat wanted in 2016.

Link to tweet

[modrepub]

1. Conner Lamb

WASHINGTON, Pa. - Conor Lamb, a 33-year old Marine veteran and assistant U.S. attorney, won the backing of local Democrats here in a special election to replace a Republican who resigned in disgrace over a sex scandal.

"There will be no doubt who represents the families of this district," Lamb said after securing the Democratic Party's nomination on the second ballot of a crowded party convention. "It's going to be us."

Lamb, a member of a prominent Allegheny County political family making his first bid for office, won the nomination over six rivals at a Sunday party convention. One week earlier, Republicans picked state legislator Rick Saccone as their nominee in the March 13 election, which was called after Rep. Tim Murphy, R, admitted to having an affair with a woman half his age and resigned.

Democrats, once dominant in southwest Pennsylvania, spotted a rare opening. The 18th Congressional District, which stretches from the Ohio border past Pittsburgh's conservative suburbs, was gerrymandered in 2011 to re-elect the once-popular Murphy. In 2016, no Democrat bothered to challenge him, and Hillary Clinton won just 38.5 percent of the district's vote.

http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/11/democrats_pick_former_federal.html#incart_river_home

[FBaggins]

2. That's not the "Trump effect"

It's the "Hillary didn't clear the field" effect.

There are almost always a bunch of potential candidates at this point if we don't have an incumbent.

[sharedvalues]

3. It's the "GOP destroying the country" effect

Democrats are lining up to run in 2018.

Because progressives thought that politics would take care of itself, and progressives could go work on building things, helping others, and spending time with their family.

And now progressives realize that if you think politics will take care of itself, billionaires will take over the GOP and screw everyone. So it's time to pitch in.

That's the effect.

[nycbos]

4. Cook PVI says it is an R+11 district.

This will be a reach for us. But not impossible.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania%27s_18th_congressional_district