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West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice joined President Trump at a rally in Huntington, W.Va., Aug. 3, to announce that he is leaving the Democratic Party for the Republican Party. (The Washington Post)

In November, Republicans solidified and/or expanded their majorities at all levels of governance, and it looked as if things couldn't get worse for Democrats. Except, it just did.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announcedThursday he is leaving the Democratic Party, just six months after taking office, and becoming a Republican. An extra twist of the knife for Democrats: Hedid it alongside President Trump, at a rally in West Virginia.

Like it or not, but the Democrats walked away from me, he told Trump supporters. " ... West Virginia, I can't help you anymore by being a Democratic governor.

It's not immediately clear why Justice is doing an about-face. But the fact he is underscores just how fragile Democrats' hold on power is. With one politician's decision to switch parties, Democrats now hold a record-low number of governorships and Republicans hold a record high.

Justice will be the 34th Republican governor, tying an all-time high for the party. Republicans now control both the governor's mansions and state legislatures in 26 states. Democrats have total control in just six states. (In 2018, they'll have a chance to pick up governorships, withRepublicans defending 27 of 38 seats, many in blue or purple states.)

Party switches, especially at the gubernatorial level, don't happen very often. Justice is the first governor to switch from Democrat to Republican in 2decades. And it's not clear he did it because of broader partisan dynamics.

Thisappears to be more of a personal decision. Justice didn't give his now-former party or his new party a heads up. He didn't call the Democratic Governors Association, which spent $1.5 million to help Justice win election, and sources say even some of his staff was caught off guard.

The DGA accused the billionaire, who owes millions in taxes and fines, of switching parties toenrich himself.

If one Democrat were to switch parties right now, Justice is probably the Democrat you'd guess. He is a former Republican. He was the first, and one of the only, big-name Democrats to say he wouldn't be voting for Hillary Clinton. It ended up being a smart call. Trump won Justice's state by more than 40 points, and Justice outperformed Clinton by more than that to win his election. Justice has been close to Trump's children, especially Eric Trump, for some time. Just last week, Justice rode in a limo with Trump as the president was in the state to talk to Boy Scouts.

In other words, Justice's departure doesn't mean Democrats are fleeing their party because they finally saw the light and decided to become Republican. In fact, maybe it's theopposite, said Carolyn Fiddler, a state-politics analyst with the left-leaning blog Daily Kos.

I'm surprised he'd opt to align himself with a party with such a damaged brand right now, she said. Trump has historically low approval ratings, and Republicans in Congress just tried to pass an Obamacare repeal, but all they accomplished was to make Obamacare more popular.

It's not immediately clear Republicans in West Virginia want him. They derided the eccentric billionaire during the campaign for notbeing good with finances.

The people of West Virginia deserve better, state Senate President Mitch Carmichael (R) said of the governor recently during a budget debate. I dont believe anybody who owes this state $4.5 million in unpaid taxes is in a position to tell a legislative body that has responsibly managed its own budget for decades . . . how to spend a single penny.

In terms of West Virginia policy, Justice's decision won't change much immediately. Republicans control the state legislature, and they could have just vetoed Justice anyway. (West Virginia is one of several states that requires a simple majority to override a governor's veto.) It's not as though Jim Justice was holding back a tide of conservative legislation as a Democratic governor, Fiddler said.

But he may have a lasting impact on West Virginia politics. Republicans have long said that if they can turn West Virginia's governor's mansion red, they could keep itRepublican for decades.

Barack Obama lost the state by double digits twice, and all but one member of West Virginia's five-person congressional delegation are Republicans. (And that lone Democrat, Sen.Joe Manchin, is up for reelection in 2018 is one of Democrats' most vulnerable.) The state legislature has been entirely controlled by Republicanssince 2014. Neighboring Kentucky is seeing the same dynamics: In November, Republicans took control of the last state legislative chamber in the South, the Kentucky statehouse.

As we wrote back then, Democrats are basically extinct in the South. Justice may have just solidified that a little farther north, in West Virginia.

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West Virginia's governor is switching parties. And Democrats just hit a new low. - Washington Post

By KIM CHANDLERThe Associated Press

DECATUR Democrats in Alabama were fired up inside a century-old art deco theater, where candidates in the party's U.S. Senate primary took turns dismissing President Trump's proposed border wall as stupid, swapping stories of people in poverty suffering without health care, and vowing to protect Planned Parenthood.

The crowd thundered and whistled in approval at the Thursday night forum, hopeful that Democrats actually have a longshot chance to win the seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

The Deep South state has shifted firmly to the red column in the 20 years since Alabama last sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate. Democrats however are hoping a series of scandals involving Alabama Republicans has given them an opening, particularly if the GOP primary slugfest produces a polarizing nominee in the off-year election.

"We have a unique opportunity here. This is a transformational election," said Doug Jones, a former U.S. attorney appointed by Bill Clinton, and one of the most well-known names in the crowded Democratic field.

The seven men seeking the Democratic nomination are a diverse group they also include a retired naval officer, an environmentalist, a professor, a county constable, a businessman and an education company executive.

Jones is best known for reopening the cold case investigation into the 1963 bombing of a Birmingham church and prosecuting two Klansman for the murders of the four little girls killed in the violent attack. He began legal career by working for the last Democrat to hold this seat, Sen. Howell Heflin.

Jones said he is emphasizing "kitchen table issues" such as wages, health care and jobs. He said Republicans are demonizing the Affordable Care Act. He said they're dismissing the concerns of hard-working Alabamians that they'll lose health care because of pre-existing conditions, and that GOP tax-breaks would only benefit the ultra-wealthy.

"If people are focused on issues, Democrats can go toe-to-toe with anybody and in fact win on most of those issues," Jones said.

Another candidate is Michael Hansen, an environmental advocate described as the first openly gay man to seek statewide office in Alabama.

"I'm telling voters look at what has been done in Alabama. We need to try something different," Hansen said.

As a gay kid growing up in the Deep South, Hansen said he learned "to stand up to bullies," and therefore would love to go head-to-head against Roy Moore, whose moves against gay marriage led to his ouster as Alabama chief justice.

"I'll be perfectly honest, running against Roy Moore in a general election would be my dream," he said.

Robert Kennedy, Jr., an African-American Naval Academy graduate who gets noticed for his name even though he's unrelated to the famed Massachusetts political dynasty, said they must reach out to "moderate Republicans and independents" who once voted with Democrats.

Joan and David Williams nodded their heads as they listened to the candidates.

"There's an energy. Right now so many people are so afraid of what Trump is doing," Joan Williams said.

"I'm afraid today we could lose the country, we could lose the whole bloody planet if Trump gets his way," said David Williams, who wore a shirt with a Neil deGrasse Tyson quote: "The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it."

The seat is currently held by Sen. Luther Strange, who was appointed by Gov. Robert Bentley before he resigned in scandal. Strange faces a crowded field of GOP primary opponents including Moore, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, state Sen. Trip Pittman and Dr. Randy Brinson, who used to run Alabama's Christian Coalition.

The Republican and Democratic winners will face off in a December match-up when there are no other races in the ballot.

Democrats had similar hopes of flipping Georgia's 6th congressional district, but lost that race in June. The math is even more daunting in Alabama, which hasn't elected a Democrat as governor since 1998. All statewide offices are held by Republicans.

Jones told The Associated Press that he's told people for years that losing will remain a self-fulfilling prophecy until "good people step up."

It's time for Democrats to try, he said.

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Democrats won't cede Senate race - Tuscaloosa News

Right now, theres a flurry of political activity in western Orange County.

With a special legislative election afoot, four Republicans are running vigorous campaigns, debating conservative ideas and collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign cash in House District 44, which envelops Disney, Winter Garden, Dr. Phillips and west Orlando.

So, the Republicans are all-in.

One the other side of the aisle is a single Democratic candidate without much name ID, support or money. As of his last report, he had raised $3,131 with most of that coming from the candidates own pocket.

All this in a district that strongly supported Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump just nine months ago by a double-digit margin, in fact.

This, my friends, is why Democrats are chronic losers in this state because they dont compete.

Heck, they cant even organize.

While Republicans are playing masters-level chess, Democrats are trying to understand the differences between red and black checkers.

In this case, we have a special election the first local one of the Trump era in an provably anti-Trump district and yet the Democratic Party is mostly MIA.

This is not a new phenomenon. Despite having more voters in Florida, Democrats havent won a single statewide office in more than a decade, other than Bill Nelsons seat for U.S. Senate.

As a result, Democrats are about as relevant as an underwater candle.

Now, Dems have made some gains in local legislative and Congressional seats in the past couple of years. But they are still way outnumbered in the Legislature 79-41 in the House and 24-15 in the Senate and struggling to find a path to relevance.

Many Democrats know this.

Doug Head, who ran Orange Countys Democratic Party for 12 years until 2004, is the single big donor (having cut a $500 check) to Paul Chandler, the underfunded candidate in House District 44.

Head knows the party didnt do squat to successfully recruit a well-known candidate and believes that was a mistake, but said he wanted to support the brave soul who stepped up to run.

We need to rethink some of our basic assumptions, Head said of party leaders defeatist approach. And maybe hell have a chance.

Steve Schale, who ran Barack Obamas Florida campaign in 2008, agreed.

You have to give yourself opportunities, Schale said. You need to put good players on the field in as many places as you can.

Even Chandler a 37-year-old former teacher, bank teller and Disney worker who moved back to Orlando just two years ago to run a health-care company knows hes not anyones hand-picked favorite.

Ive always been the underdog, he said. But the only way a House seat is not winnable is if you dont put someone in it to win it.

Hes absolutely right.

Privately, Democrats offer all sorts of excuses for why they didnt do more to recruit and fully back an established candidate.

Theres not enough money. The district still has more registered Republicans. Marco Rubio still won there. We dont have good candidates ready.

Blah, blah, blah. And wah, wah, wah.

How do you think you get good or well-known candidates in the future?

If nothing else, the exercise of running the campaign is calisthenics for the main events, Head said. Weve got to build our muscles.

Schale agreed, calling full-throated campaigns a healthy organizing exercise.

The bottom line: If Democrats dont try in a competitive race like this, theyre basically waving the white flag.

Now, its certainly true that legislative and congressional districts are still gerrymandered in favor of the Republicans. (Democrats also rigged the districts when they controlled the state back decades ago.)

And yes, the Republicans have more money, thanks largely to business interests who believe Republicans better serve their interests. (About $200 million more in party contributions over the past 10 years and even more siphoned through political committees.)

But all that shouldve been even more reason for Democrats to focus on a special election in a competitive district like this one, where snagging just 10,000 votes could flip a seat.

Wes Hodge, the leader of the Orange County Democrats, said the party has been working behind the scenes to help Chandler and said the efforts will step up after the GOP primary on Aug. 15 among Republicans Usha Jain, John Newstreet, Bobby Olszewski and Bruno Portigliatti.

Well see. Maybe Democrats will belatedly step up their game. Maybe both sides will dazzle with impressive campaigns and hearty exchanges of ideas heading into the October general election.

Maybe. But theres no doubt Democrats are starting behind again.

Hodge noted that cronyism is the only reason they are even having this special election.

Hes right about that. The seat is suddenly vacant because Gov. Rick Scott picked sitting state Rep. Eric Eisnaugle a 40-year-old lawyer with a lackluster legislative record, no judicial experience and not even much courtroom experience to serve on one of the highest courts in the state.

And how did that happen? Because once again, Republicans had their chess game mastered. They were thinking three moves ahead while Democrats where fumbling to open the box.

smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com

The rest is here:
This is why Florida Democrats are losers - Orlando Sentinel

SCHENECTADY Damonni Farley can run for Schenectady City Council, just not as a Democrat.

On Friday, state Supreme Court Justice Barry Kramer threw out Farley's petition on procedural grounds.

The insurgent Democrat backed by Mayor Gary McCarthy went to court in hopes of overturning a decision by the Board of Elections that knocked him off the Democratic ballot when 481 signatures on his petitions were found because for assorted reasons to be invalid.

The left Farley with only has 668 valid petitions, and he needed 752 to force a primary because Farley would have been the fourth Democrat vying for three open City Council seats.

Many signatures that the election commissioners threw out last week were ruled invalid because they were Democrats whose actual addresses did not match those on file with the Board of Elections while others who signed the petitions were enrolled in another political party.

Kramer told Farley's attorney, Daniel Smalls, that besides the paperwork not being filed properly the biggest problem was that he failed to include former City Council President Margaret "Peggy" King in the petition he filed Monday.

"She had to named so she had an opportunity to be heard," said Kramer shortly before dismissing the matter.

King filed objections to 534 of the 1,149 signatures submitted by Farley.

Kramer also said it was too late to revise the court document because the statute of limitations had run out.

"This procedural aspect cannot be fixed," said Kramer.

Afterwards, Frank Salamone, who argued the case for the county, said his office was "gratified that the bipartisan decision was upheld," a reference to the fact that Commissioners Amy Hild, a Democratic, and Darlene Harris, a Republican, presided over the process. Both were in court.

Farley said he's disappointed the case wasn't heard, but he's now looking forward to the general election in November.

"This entire process has energized the city of Schenectady and they are gonna come out and vote for me on the Working Family Party line," he added. "Its a new day, we're fired up and ready to go."

The incumbent Democrats are John Mootooveren, Marion Porterfield and Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas.

Three other candidates vying for a City Council seat are Rima Cerrone, a Republican, Mohamed Hafez, a registered Democrat running on the GOP line, and Joseph Muno, who is collecting signatures for a bid as an independent candidate.

Read the rest here:
Farley's bid in court to force Democrats into primary foiled - Albany Times Union

Aug. 3, 2017 at 1:21 PM

Sen. Bernie Sanders speaking at a rally for Heath Mello, a pro-life Democrat who lost the Omaha Democratic mayoral race in the spring.

For Democrats with eyes fixed on the midterms, the months since the 2016 election have been filled with soul-searching about the most promising paths to victory in 2018. This week, Rep. Ben Ray Lujn, head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, made some news when he said in an interview with The Hill that the organization wouldnt take a candidates stance on abortion into account when allocating campaign funds. The move has angered some on the left and renewed questions about what ideological deviations from Democratic orthodoxy the party should tolerate as it tries to win back voters who swung for President Trump in last years election.

Activists and some prominent Democrats took umbrage with the DCCCs stance when news of it surfaced this week. Cecile Richards, head of Planned Parenthood, wrote in a tweet, Women deserve access to safe, legal abortion no matter if their state is red or blue its a constitutional right that cant be traded away; and ThinkProgress talked to abortion rights activists who felt undermined by the move. Former Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean, who headed the organization during its 2006 50 state strategy push to be competitive, even in conservative states, tweeted out the Hill article and said, Im afraid Ill be with holding support for the DCCC if this is true.

But the DCCC signal on abortion is in keeping with some of what Sen. Bernie Sanders has been pushing for that the party emphasize its economic message over its cultural one. Its this philosophy that led Sanders to campaign this past spring for a Democratic mayoral candidate in Omaha, Nebraska, who voted for abortion restriction measures during his time in the state Senate.

The debate isnt just lip service about how to attract Trump voters its indicative of a split that already exists within the party. A look at the numbers shows Democrats dont all feel the same about abortion rights. In 2017, polarization doesnt just happen across party lines, but within parties themselves.

In 1995, about 66 percent of the overall Democratic electorate believed that abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Since then, Democrats overall have shifted towards greater comfort with abortion. In 2017, 75 percent said they think it should be legal in most or all cases, according to a Pew Research Center poll.

But that shift hasnt occurred across the board within the party. The last couple of years have seen approval for abortion shoot up dramatically among white Democrats and those who identify as ideologically liberal. But black Democrats and ideologically moderate or conservative Democrats have moved more slowly in their approval rates.

Angry reaction to Lujn and the DCCCs decision against an abortion litmus test for campaign funds comes in part because ideological liberals now make up more of the Democratic Party. Those liberals approval rates for abortion have increased dramatically since 2015, indicating perhaps a renewed interest in the abortion rights cause since the rise of Trump.

According to Gallup, liberal affiliation within the Democratic Party has increased by around one percentage point every year since 2001, when it was 30 percent, through 2016, when it was 44 percent. And in just the past two years (the most recent presidential election cycle), self-described liberal Democrats have become dramatically more supportive of abortion rights: In 2015, 78 percent of liberal Democrats thought abortion should be legal in all or most cases, and by 2017, that number was at 88 percent, a dramatic jump.

White Democrats made similar movements in those two years: In 2015, 74 percent of them favored abortion, and in 2017, that number was at 83 percent. Black Democratic voters have also increased their support for abortion rights over the last decade, but continue to lag behind the percentage of white Democrats who favor abortion rights. Views on abortion among black Democrats (who are less likely than white Democrats to identify as liberal) havent substantially changed over the last two years. In 2015, 64 percent of black Democrats thought abortion should be legal, and in 2017 that number had only moved to 66 percent. Thats a 2-percentage point swing compared to white voters almost 9-point swing during the same two years.

In a party that is growing increasingly liberal, the argument to play to an emerging base of voters activated by Trump is compelling. Dean told FiveThirtyEight that he sees cultivating the strength of youth movements as key. The big trick with this age group is to organize them, stop them from being ad hoc, he said. We need to focus on our principles and then sell our principles to people who are inclined to work with them. For Dean, being in favor of abortion rights is one of those principles.

But if the focus for Democrats is the short-term need for 2018 wins, the DCCC and Sanders also have a strong case. Even setting aside whether or not candidates with more moderate views on abortion will win back areas Democrats lost to Trump, abortion doesnt seem to particularly animate a key group that Democrats need to see turn out in 2018: black voters. Although the latest Pew Research Center poll showed that most black Democrats are pro-abortion rights, only 7 percent said the party should limit its support to pro-abortion rights candidates in a recent YouGov poll. White Democrats, on the other hand, prioritized the issue of abortion rights more strongly, with 35 percent of them saying that the party should limit its support to only these types of candidates.

What does seem clear is that as the road to 2018 unspools, the Democrats might need to brace for their own culture war over the culture wars.

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Democrats Aren't In Lockstep Over Abortion That's Why They're Fighting - FiveThirtyEight