Honestly, I feel like this focus on “vote against the opponent” is a misstep by the DNC and will become a major hindrance in a few years. The DNC should be promoting candidates that will push a popular progressive agenda rather than “I’m not them”. I get why they’re doing it, but it will come back to bite the DNC
Districts who vote for people like Boebert aren’t going to vote for a candidate running on “popular progressive agenda”, because they aren’t progressive. You won’t be able convince the MAGA crowd not to vote for a nut-job. But if you can showcase how insane some candidates are, the more moderate conservatives (which is a massive % of US voters) might just be turned-off enough that they don’t vote at all.
MAGA is no longer a winning platform, that’s why there was no ‘red wave’ in 2022. Truthfully, the solution would be RCV, but that would reduce the established power from both parties, so established politicians on both sides would vote against it in Boebert’s district (Colorado passed a bill in 2021 allowing RCV in counties and municipalities). I live in Minnesota, a solidly purple state (despite the presidential voting record). With a one senator majority lead, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party very likely secured the next election for themselves. How? By passing 30 progressive bills that have 70%+ statewide support, like a public healthcare option, legal cannabis, guaranteed paid sick time, bans on corporate ownership of single family homes, and more. This is how we win, not “vote for me, I’m not her”
But it’s the choice between pushing someone who isn’t your opponent and maybe getting elected vs pushing “popular progressive agenda” and not getting elected. This is the district that elected Boebert twice. They don’t want progressive. It’s only through the sheer awfulness that Boebert is that there’s even a chance.
