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Senator Joe Manchin acknowledged that moderate Democrats like himself are seemingly less popular among voters these days as he addressed a series of recent wins for progressives.

"The bases are looking for something that's more sensational, I guess, and more divisive," Manchin told CNN's Manu Raju about Rep. Conor Lamb's loss in Pennsylvania and Rep. Kurt Schrader's likely loss in Oregon.

Establishment Democrats were dealt a blow in Tuesday's primaries after progressive challengers appeared to edge out their more centrist rivals in a number of races.

In Pennsylvania, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who backed Senator Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential run, easily won the Democratic primary against Lamb with nearly 60 percent of the vote. The Senate race in Pennsylvania has been one of the most-watched races this year, albeit there has been more focus on the GOP primary that features a Trump endorsement.

Fetterman ran on a campaign as a foil to moderates like Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema by pledging to "always be that 51st vote"a cheeky nod to the senators' past of stalling the Democratic agenda in the evenly-divided senate. He also supports eliminating the filibuster, which is one thing Manchin and Sinema have refused to do despite pleas from their party.

Asked about Fetterman's remarks that he's "no Joe Manchin," the West Virginia senator said, "I always said to get to know me is to like me."

Labor activist Summer Lee, the progressive favorite who rallied with Sanders last week, is also holding onto a narrow lead over moderate Steve Irwin in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District. She is expected to join the House's so-called "Squad," alongside Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, if she wins the general election.

In Oregon, Democrats are preparing for Schrader to lose in a close congressional race against progressive Jamie McLeod-Skinner. With just over half of the ballots counted, McLeod-Skinner is leading with 60 percent of the vote.

The race had been anticipated to be another standoff between a centrist Democrat and a progressive one, with Schrader earning both President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's endorsement and McLeod-Skinner receiving Senator Elizabeth Warren's backing.

Schrader, whose rival dubbed him the "Joe Manchin of the House," has notably voted against some of the party's prioritiesa record McLeod-Skinner capitalized on during her campaign.

"He's fought negotiating lower drug prices, raising the federal minimum wage, and forgiving debt for college loans," McLeod-Skinner told Pamplin Media Group. "When he does vote with Democrats, it is often after working to water-down the original ideas."

When asked about her lead over the president's candidate, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden was not worried about the weight of his endorsements, saying that "Both candidates were running on a platform that supported, embraced the president's agenda."

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Manchin Admits His Brand of Democrat is a Losing Strategy - Newsweek

RED BANK - The two Democrats competingfor the fractious party's nomination for mayor will make their cases to voters Tuesday in a debate that could indicate how the town will be governed for years to come.

The League of Women Voters of the Greater Red Bank Area and Southern Monmouth County will host a Red Bank mayoral candidates forum on Zoom at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 24 at 7 p.m. It will be hosted two weeks before the local Democratic and Republican primaries on June 7. In recent years, Democrats have routinely swept the council seats.

Second-term Red Bank councilman Michael Ballard and newcomer Billy Portman will answer questions submitted ahead of time by residents. Advance registration for attendees is required at https://bit.ly/forumredbankdem.

Ballard could not be reached for comment.

Portman, a Red Bank resident since 2015, is the owner of Advantage Construction, a commercial building contractor, and Elegant Mist, a company that sells cooling systems. He has three children who have all attended one of Red Banks arts academies and he sings in a cover band called So Watt.

Portman said he has been involved with canvassing for national politics since 2004.He said although he has not been involved in the local Democratic Municipal Committee, he has been following local issues since 2018.

Democrats had swept into power in Red Bank for the first time in however many years and then, immediately infighting started, he said referring to the six-person all-Democratic council that came into office in 2018.

Red Bank: Apartment plan would now save one house from wrecking ball

He referred to last years June primary, in which two incumbent Democratic council members ran against two candidates who were chosen by the local Democratic Municipal Committee, which is led by Councilman Edward Zipprich.

Primary voters chose one candidate from each faction, and incumbent Kate Triggiano and newcomer Jacqueline Sturdivant were elected to the Red Bank council in November.

Portman said the Democratic Municipal Committee primaried two of the existing council people because they didnt get along with them. And I was like, well … thats kind of gross.

Red Bank: Former council president charged with stealing thousands from nonprofit

He then noted that the local Democratic Municipal Committee voted for Councilman Michael Ballard to run for mayor this year instead of Mayor Pat Menna, who has served in the job since 2006 and for 18 years before that as a council member.

It didnt seem right.(Ballard) was going to run unopposed, get the nomination without even a fight, Portman said.

'Things have gotten out of hand': Red Bank mayor, councilwoman skip race after party split

A statement by the Red Bank Democratic Municipal Committee said Ballard got the group's endorsement for mayor with 10 of the 17 votes that were cast. Menna chose not to run for job in the primary.

It read, In an historic nomination, The Red Bank Democratic Municipal Committee has chosen two-term Councilman Michael Ballard to run for mayor. Ballard is the first African American in the 114-year history of Red Bank to be nominated for the boroughs top job.

Portman said he supports the ongoing Charter Study Commissionand hopes it will recommend nonpartisan elections and a strong borough administrator.

For subscribers: How Red Bank's charter study could mean big changes to local government

I think that would be a lot less divisive and I say that as a Democrat, Portman said. The issues are sewers and development and planning and those arent really Democratic or Republican issues. Those are just issues that affect a small town.

In support of a strong administrator, he said, We would still be passing laws as a council and shaping policy, but the day-to-day stuff should be run by a single administrator. Right now, it seems like the council is a bunch of little chiefdoms where you have different council people responsible for different areas and people are getting mixed messages.

New place to eat in town: Long-time Juanito's Restaurant owner to open new Red Bank spot

An emailed statement from the Democratic Municipal Committee says Ballard and its candidates for the Red Bank council are united in feeling the town needs stability more than ever, including retaining our form of government, a borough.

Portman said hesupportsan update to the master plan, which has been in the works since 2019.

One thing Im hearing from a lot of people as Im talking to them is just development, Portman said. How is development affecting the town? Is there over-development? Is there under-development? The one thing I really think needs to happen is there needs to be an update to the master plan. (Because) it seems like every time somebody wants to do something, its like a spot zoning issue. Were just approving this one project in this one area. And I dont think thats good for the town.

He said, Im definitely not a politician. This is not a stepping stone for me to higher office.

He added, Im in this because it looks like somethings needed fixing and I think I can do that.

Red Bank: Black composers you should know will be heard at Red Bank concert

In addition to the position of mayor,Councilwoman Angela Mirandi and Red Bank resident John Jackson, both endorsed by the Democratic Municipal Committee, are running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for two borough council seats. The mayor serves for four years, the council members for three.

Republican candidates who had run unsuccessfully in previous elections are running unopposed on the Republican primary again. Brian Irwin is running for mayor and Christine Stout and Jonathan Penney are running for council. According to Penney, they are placeholder candidates. Last year, Stout and Penney dropped out of the race before the general election.

Democrats are also being asked to choose between two rival 18-member slates of candidates running to be in charge of borough's Democratic Party.

A group called the Democrats for Red Bank is challengingthe local Democratic Municipal Committee. The rival group includes current councilwomen Triggiano and Kathy Horgan as well as Charter Study members Nancy Facey-Blackwood and Ben Forest.

Red Bank: Developer drops plan to pave century-old house, put up a parking lot

Up until this year, the six-person Borough Council was split evenly between the two factions of Democrats.

In January, former Councilman Erik Yngstrom quit, citing toxicity on the council. He said certain individuals seem more focused on political gains and people trying to keep their perceived political power.

'We have lost our way': Red Bank councilman quits, may have given opponents the edge

Zipprich gave Menna three replacement candidates, as required by law, but then rejected Menna's choice, Stephen Hecht, in favor of Mirandi. With that addition, Zipprich, Ballard, Sturdivant and Mirandi now have the edge over their fellow Democrats Horgan and Triggiano on the council. Like Menna, Horgan chose not to run in the primary this year after the Democratic Municipal Committee chose not to endorse her for re-election.

OliviaLiuis a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com.

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Red Bank mayor debate pits rival Democrats fighting over party and town - Asbury Park Press

Joy Greenwald, Townsquare Media

It's no secret that Wyoming is a heavily Republican state and the candidate filings for the 2022 primary election with the Wyoming Secretary of State's office don't do anything to dispel that image.

While candidates still have through Friday to file to run for state office in the Cowboy State, a check of the candidates who have formally filed so far is decidedly lopsided in terms of partisan affiliation.

Of the five statewide elected offices, all of which are on the ballot this year, only one Democrat has formally filed. Sergio Maldonado of Lander has filed to run as a Democrat for state Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The other statewide offices--governor, treasurer, secretary of state, and state auditor--all officially have at least one GOP candidate, and three Republicans have filed for State Superintendent.

While Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon will have all of the advantages of incumbency as he runs for a second term, that hasn't stopped three other candidates from filing to run against him in the August 16 primary election. Brent Bien, Rex Rammel, and James Scott Quick all say they running against Gordon.

But no Democrats had joined that race as of Monday morning.

Interestingly, while Wyoming has not sent a Democrat to Congress since Teno Roncalio of Rock Springs was elected in 1976, the state has over that time been more amenable to Democratic gubernatorial candidates, with Ed Herschler, Mike Sullivan, and Dave Freudenthal all winning multiple terms in the governor's office.

Perhaps the state's most closely watched race in 2022 will be the state's lone congressional seat where incumbent Liz Cheney has incurred the wrath of former President Donald Trump and his loyalists. But while Cheney and the Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman of Cheyenne have both been actively raising money and are widely expected to run, as of Monday morning only state Senator Anthony Bouchard of Cheyenne--who on Facebook has called Cheney and Hageman "BFFs"--had formally filed.

No Democrats have, as of yet, jumped into the congressional race. But at least one third-party candidate is running. Marrissa Joy Selvig of Riverton was nominated for congress by the Constitution Party at its April convention.

Because she is not running for the nomination of either of the major parties on their primary election day on April 16, Selvig does not have to file for the primary.

A quick scan of the party registration figures for Wyoming shows the uphill battle that Democrats face in getting elected in the Cowboy State. Republicans hold an overall registration advantage of 196,888 to 45,095.

Teton County is the only county with more Democrats registered to vote than Republicans, and that margin is less than 300 voters.

Albany County, home of the University of Wyoming and widely perceived as a Democratic stronghold in fact has more registered Republicans than Democrats by more than 2,000 voters.

Perhaps the best example of the modern GOP dominance of Wyoming can be seen in Sweetwater County. That county was as recently as the late 1980s and into the early 90s heavily Democratic, due in large part to the historical alliance between the Democratic Party and the labor unions to which many miners in the county's trona and coal industries belonged.

Sweetwater County electing Republicans to the legislature was at one time extremely rare, and as recently as 2010 Democrats held a narrow majority among registered voters there.

But in 2022, the county sent only one Democrat to the Wyoming Legislature, Chad Banks of Green River. And Republican voters now outnumber Democrats in Sweetwater County by 11,044 to 3,526.

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Few Wyoming Democrats Have So Far Filed to Run For Office In 2022 - Kgab

This is a guest opinion column

I happen to be a Democrat through and through pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ rights, anti-death penalty, pro-taxing-the-rich, pro-criminal justice reform. So clearly I support candidates who share those values. But this Tuesdays primary election is less about arguing over policy positions and more about who you want representing those policies. So how do you decide who to support in the primary? Here are the top 10 things I look for in a candidate to support:

1) First and foremost, a great candidate is someone with the courage to run even (and especially) if the seat is not likely to be won. Running should never be about boosting your own brand or your own ego. Even when you cant win, running is about making the place you live a better place for everyone else to live. Every campaign is an opportunity to build community and empower residents to speak up for what they need and want.

2) An excellent candidate has a track record of involvement/service in the community, and/or expertise in areas over which the position has power. If a Google search of your name brings back no evidence of that, Im skeptical that this is more than a fleeting interest.

3) A candidate worth our support is willing to do the hard work that needs to be done even if its boring, painful, awkward, or monotonous. (This means doing the endless hours of fundraising calls, but also showing up to community events, putting down the microphone, and really listening to people about whats affecting their lives.) The truly dedicated will outwork the competition and out-slog the slog.

4) A great candidate can tell a compelling story. Communication skills are key for getting things done as an elected official, and the campaign is the perfect opportunity to show them off. If a candidate cant explain why a policy matters and why theyre the best person for the job, if they cant answer questions off-the-cuff in public forum, they probably wont be a very good leader once in office.

5) A candidate worth supporting is one who understands the political game - the rings that want to be kissed, the endorsements that matter, the machines that expect payment, the rivalries to balance - and yet isnt captured by that game. I dont like the political game, its dirty and benefits only the elite. But if a candidate doesnt understand it and cant play it (at least a little), they will get eaten alive once in office.

6) A candidate to believe in is one with focus and discipline. They make a plan and work that plan, willing to change tactics (or even change their mind!) when the situation truly demands it, but not easily distracted or discouraged by their detractors. If a candidate is constantly changing positions and releasing new messaging in response to what their opponent said, they probably dont have thick enough skin for this work.

7) An excellent candidate will have experience commensurate with the position they seek. Not everyone needs to be a lawyer or even have a degree, but if the job requires managing a staff, if it requires managing a budget, it wont be their first time. If you are going to be responsible for creating policy related to energy and utilities, for example, youd better be able to talk intelligently about how all that works.

8) Plenty of people can loudly lament problems and condemn enemies, but a stand-out candidate will be more interested in solving problems and building bridges. My ideal candidate is practical, willing to sacrifice purity of ideals in favor of making peoples lives better. I want someone who can propose novel policy solutions, but also get behind someone elses solution if its the one that can actually get passed.

9) An inspiring candidate is one who recognizes that this campaign (and policy making if elected) will be a team effort, not a solo act. Whether the campaign team is paid or volunteer, experienced or new, they will lead that team by being its hardest working member and its biggest cheerleader. Once in office, I expect theyll know how to surround themselves with smart advisors.

10) Last (and perhaps most unusual), when choosing who to invest in, I look at whether the candidate has supported other candidates (with time or money) in the past. If youve never given to someone elses campaign, how can you ask others to show up for you?

(You can find out which if any federal campaigns a candidate has donated to by searching at https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/ . You can find out the same about state campaigns at https://fcpa.alabamavotes.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/ContributionSearch.aspx You might be surprised to find, for example, that most of the Republican candidates for Governor and US Senate never gave a dime to Donald Trumps campaign.)

Tabitha K. Isner is a business analyst, ordained minister, foster/adoptive mom, activist for government transparency, and was the 2018 Democratic nominee for Alabamas 2nd Congressional District.

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Guest opinion: 10 things to look for in picking a candidate - whether Republican or Democrat - AL.com

This is an opinion column.

In 2020, Donald Trump was the only issue on the ballot. Voters didnt turn out in record numbers because of their favored policies or enthusiasm over the Democratic ticket. In fact, it didnt really matter who was on the other side of the ballot from Trump. Now, its becoming uncomfortably clear that Democrats didnt send their best people.

President Joe Bidens approval rating has been under water since September of 2021. The manner in which hes failed has been truly spectacular.

Read more Cameron Smith columns:

His exit from Afghanistan was abysmal. His management of the COVID-19 pandemic has been rudderless. Biden has overseen a complete immigration mess at Americas southern border. His rhetoric in support of Ukraine has been admirable, but Biden clearly doesnt have an end-game. His energy policies have exacerbated American pain at the fuel pump. Biden even took three months to engage infant formula shortages across the country.

Worse still, the inflation he claimed to be transitory has moved from an esoteric economic concept into a painful reality hammering every family budget in America.

The president who told us that his election marked a time to heal has now decided to attack ultra-MAGA Republicans as dangerous extremists. Shockingly, six months of research by the Center for American Progress Action Fund determined that Democrats should use Trumps old campaign slogan as their anti-slogan.

Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki claimed that ultra-MAGA is Bidens brainchild. He apparently added ultra to give it a little extra pop.

Wow. If that doesnt inspire confidence in Bidens leadership, Im not sure what will.

Clearly, the Democratic consultant class never learned from Hillary Clintons basket of deplorables fumble. Democrats heading into the 2022 midterms aspire to remind voters of 2020. Apparently Democrats: Still not Republicans was too on the nose.

We live in an era where many of us simply vote for our respective political teams regardless of performance. Our party is the righteous one, and the other is either materially misguided or downright evil. That said, most of us arent oblivious to reality.

The 2020 political narrative that Biden would be a moderate bridge to Harriss progressive future has been overtaken by a great number of events. The situational pressure has exposed both the president and vice president as deficient at governing.

Democrats have left themselves in a horrible political bind. They cant let Biden ride off into the sunset at the end of his first term without giving Harris a shot. In a bit of irony, Harris is even less popular than Biden.

Progressive Democrats had hoped that giving Harris a policy initiative to handle might bolster her credentials to be commander-in-chief. Sadly, her task was addressing the crisis at the southern border. Bidens epic failure on immigration is largely because he asked Harris to lead. To make matters worse, Harris rivals Biden as a word salad generator, a gift to any opponent with a decent media team.

Democrats should be thanking Trump and his acolytes because he continues to keep the national conversation focused on the 2020 election and the attack on the U.S. Capitol. That is precisely the distraction Democrats need to keep voters from evaluating their track record over the last few years. Ive never had a problem criticizing Trump for such unforced errors and leadership failures. Where are the Democrats being honest about Biden and Harris?

At what point are Democrats who so freely criticized Trump for a lack of competency and clarity going to admit the Biden administration is failing in ways that harm America regardless of our partisan perspectives. Im not asking any Democrat to support Trump or enthusiastically get behind a Republican, but, to borrow from Biden, Come on, man!

I understand if folks like Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Gov. Ron DeSantis, or Sen. Rick Scott give Democrats hives. Democrats werent going to vote for them anyway. Democrats do need to drag the Biden administration out of the ditch or find someone else quickly. Both parties need to move forward from 2020, address 2022 with sobriety, and put up candidates in 2024 who wont continue to fail our nation.

Smith is a recovering political attorney with three boys, two dogs, and an extremely patient wife. He engages media, business, and policy through the Triptych Foundation and Triptych Media. Please direct outrage or agreement to csmith@al.com or @DCameronSmith on Twitter.

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Cameron Smith: Biden and Harris prove Democrats didnt send their best people in 2020 - AL.com