Help me understand this "down the ballot" discussion?

[kentuck]

The gist of the argument is that if Bernie were to win, it would hurt the candidates down the ballot.

Are they saying if Bernie got more votes than anyone else and became the nominee, his supporters would not vote for those "down the ballot"?

Or are they saying that all those folks that did not come out to vote for another candidate in the primaries, for whatever reason, will not come out and vote for Bernie Sanders in the general election, but will come out and vote for the person they did not want to come out and vote for in the primaries?

Help me understand this argument. It's a little confusing for me.

[Qutzupalotl]

1. Democrats who won in red districts will probably have to distance themselves

from the nominee. That’s tricky. Not impossible, but can be difficult. We would have a better chance of keeping the House if our nominee could be universally supported.

There are people with a knee-jerk reaction to anything labeled “socialist.” The fear is that some portion will stay home, which might be enough to offset the enthusiasm with young voters. Certainly Trump will paint Sanders as something un-American, and that could galvanize the right. That would be harder to do with any other candidate, particularly Joe.

[Liberty Belle]

6. The party could send moderates like Biden to campaign for down-ticket people in swing states.

Whoever wins, expect to see the Clintons, Obamas, Carter, and every one of the Dem primary contenders talking up down ticket races in places where they may have influence.

Dem candidates in red or purple districts could also take some stances not in line with the progressive wing, on issues such as gun rights or Medicare for all, if that's what they need to beat a Republican. One guy running in a red district locally is talking about letting people buy into Medicare early, for instance, while saying we can't currently afford Medicare for All. I know Republican office holders who have told me they like that idea.

The key will be to convince red voters that a Dem in such districts won't be a rubber stamp for everything Sanders wants, though being supportive on some things such as stopping the politics of hate and demonizing of minorities, and standing up to protect people from Trump's rollbacks of clean water and air protections, and doing more to help working class people who were largely betrayed by false promises made by Trump.

[dsc]

2. He will lose my state by a huge amount

and likely won't even campaign here which will make it exponentially harder for us to beat Tillis and for Cooper to win his reelection. I would be amazed if Sanders is within 10 here. In comparison Obama won here in 2008, lost in 2012 by a couple, Clinton lost by about 3, we won a Senate race and governor's race when Obama won, we lost a governor's race when he lost, and we won a governor's race and lost a senate race in 2016. Plus the GOP convention is here in 2020.

[4139]

3. 1972 did not help republicans in the House and Senate

“ In the House, the Republican Party picked up twelve seats, but Democrats easily retained a majority. In the Senate, the Democratic Party picked up two seats, increasing their majority”

some panicky people are mentioning 1972 so I looked it up

[wyldwolf]

14. A little misleading

Democrats had an overwhelmingly large advantage in the House that didn't break until '94.

Even a 12 seat loss today would be more consequential than a 12 seat loss in 1972. A Sanders run could wipe out the advantage we won in conservative districts. It will likely put Jeff Sessions back in the Senate in AL.

[loyalsister]

15. Well done

Nixon was corrupt but very competent as a president. The extent of his corruption was also not known when he was re-elected in 72. Trump is not knowledgeable about anything outside his tiny sphere of self interest bubble much less competent to serve the public interest, severely corrupt and voters know it.

Sanders is generating enthusiasm and increasing turnout of voters who are willing to endorse his candidacy has great potential to help down ticket.

The fires Bernie is lighting are very exciting to me and I underestimated him at first.

[wyldwolf]

4. Georgia will move back into the solidly red column... Dems like Lucy McBath will be trounced.

[Peacetrain]

5. Kentuck.. we have the house because of the wins in red area in 2018

In fact I do not think one AOC backed candidate won.. Sanders does not have the coat tails and that is what people are worried about down ballot..

[wyldwolf]

9. No Progressive Organization-backed candidate won.

[Peacetrain]

10. Thank You.. I was hoping I was not pulling that out of thin air

Sometimes the memory gets things mixed up

[kentuck]

13. We should not expect Bernie to do well in those states on Super Tuesday...

..or whenever their primary happens to be? But, if the majority in those states vote for Bernie, then it seems logical that the "down ballot" candidates would need those voters to compete? If he won, I would assume he would have more supporters to contribute to their races?

But, those are the states that will determine the nominee, would be my guess.

[Mz Pip]

7. If enough people are turned off

they’ll stay home on Election Day. Those are lost votes for Senate and House seats, as well as local state elections.

[wyldwolf]

8. and one other thing not being mentioned. SCOTUS

RBG is hoping for a Democratic win in the White House and the Senate. A Sanders nomination reduces our chances. She may retire and leave another vacancy for Trump to fill.

Sanders could hurt us down the ballot and the courts.

[Hoyt]

11. +1. Unfortunately, RBG will likely not be on SC in 2025. We've asked too much of her as it is.

[msongs]

12. one suspects bernie will not lift a finger to help dems downticket cuz

downticket dems are members of the dreaded democratic establishment, i e winners

[mgcgulfcoast]

16. Its a scare tactic that wont work

What will hurt down ballot democrats is if Sanders gets the most delegates and doesnt get the nomination.