Fear Was More Powerful Than Anger This Year

Republicans have been effectively stuck in an abusive relationship, unwilling or unable to extricate themselves from a toxic situation. Donald Trump and his MAGA movement have had a virtual stranglehold on the GOP for six years, and now the consequences for the party are becoming increasingly apparent. From the circumstances […] Read more »

What Can Losing ‘22 Dem Candidates Tell Us About ‘24 Priorities?

In politics, losing isn’t always a career ender. Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush both lost U.S. House contests before winning statewide office. … In recent years, however, thanks to the increasing nationalization of our politics, down-ballot candidates can quickly build a brand that goes far beyond the borders […] Read more »

No, the Big Lie Hasn’t Gone Away

Key Points• An analysis of 552 Republican candidates running for Senate, House of Representatives, governor, secretary of state, and attorney general in the 2022 elections shows that close to half (221 candidates) who made statements on a spectrum from those who accepted the 2020 election outcome with reservations to those […] Read more »

How Democrats Prevented a Red Wave

By all major political indicators, 2022 should have delivered the type of shellacking that the president’s party typically endures in midterm elections: Over 70% of voters believed the country was on the wrong track, 76% rated the economy negatively, and President Biden’s approval rating of 43% has historically resulted in […] Read more »

Georgia runoff: Candidate quality meant fewer Republicans turned out for Walker

When it came down to it, some Republicans couldn’t vote for Herschel Walker. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson Andra Gillespie, Emory University Runoff elections tend to be races of attrition. Turnout will most likely be lower, as voters are less accustomed to turning out for off-cycle elections. Candidates, then, must try to […] Read more »