In Virginia's eleventh district, Gerry Connolly is winning by 18 points with 48% reporting over war opponent Leslie Byrne. The final results aren't in and are delayed by spectacular weather (Aravosis has amazing pictures of the lightning here).
I'm waiting for Maine's first district to report to see how conservative Adam Cote does in his contest against Chellie Pingree and Ethan Strimling. John Nichols has coined the term 'Bluewashing' to describe corporate interests playing in Democratic primaries to move the party to the right. I'm not ready to draw any conclusions about larger trends, but here are some observations.
In three special elections this year, three conservative 'Blue Dog' Democrats have been elected, padding the conservative working majority in the Congress.
There is substantial funding from corporate PACs for nearly every Blue Dog Democrat and frontline freshmen. While internet contributions provide some counterweight, it is far less reliable a stream of capital.
There have been no significant Senate primaries from the left, and one from the right in the form of Rob Andrews in New Jersey.
There were two significant House challenges from the left (Al Wynn, Leonard Boswell), and two significant challenge from the right (Dennis Kucinich, Steve Cohen).
Progressives have won one House seat over Democratic incumbent, in Maryland 4th, conservative Democrats have not won any House seats over progressive incumbents (Cohen-Tinker is ongoing).
I have not analyzed open seat primary results yet, but I would not be surprised to see a mixed record across the board, which, in a progressive window environment, is a missed opportunity. It shouldn't though be surprising. After all, while progressives have limited institutional support, here's what the conservatives have to help them.
Today State Sen. Parker Griffith got the endorsement of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally conservative Democrat congressmen co-founded by the man Griffith hopes to replace.
In a conference call, U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer - the former district attorney from Huntsville who is retiring after serving nine terms in Congress - said Griffith had to undergo a "dynamic, selective" interview process to win the endorsement...
U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., who co-chairs the Blue Dog Coalition, said that as an endorsee, Griffith will get the maximum contribution allowed by federal law - $5,000 - plus can likely expect donations from Blue Dogs "who don't find themselves in tough races."
Cramer isn't saying what he'll do, but he'll likely become a lobbyist, which only reinforces the cycle of corporate PAC money and bad decision-making.
As progressives, we have to figure out a way to break this cycle. Obama has shown tremendous leadership by refusing lobbyist cash, and both he and Clinton have trained millions to contribute and get involved.
It's going to take two to three more years before the base will turn fervently ideological, and we're having successes on the way. More soon.
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