With limited data, exactly how many Republican incumbents are in trouble is hard to know. But Democrats have good reason to think big.
Bill Scher
Bill Scher is the politics editor of the Washington Monthly. He is the host of the history podcast When America Worked and the cohost of the bipartisan online show and podcast The DMZ.
Bill is on Bluesky @billscher.bsky.social, X @billscher, and Threads @billschermedia.
Posted inPolitics
Amy Acton Won’t Debate. It’s Worked Before
Many pundits wrote off Katie Hobbs when she wouldn’t debate Kari Lake, but now she’s Arizona’s governor on the verge of winning reelection. So why should Ohio’s Democratic gubernatorial nominee tangle on stage with Vivek Ramaswamy?
Posted inPolitics
How to Build a Big Tent
Socialists and left populists have argued that a Democratic big tent should include figures like Hasan Piker. But the Democrats’ best coalition builder of the last 60 years, Barack Obama, had a different strategy.
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On Fox News, El-Sayed Bravely Defended Gender-Affirming Care, Then Took a Weird, Wrong Turn
The U.S. Senate candidate crossed over into bravado when he compared trans surgery to circumcision.
Posted inPolitics
How 2026 Is Not Like 2006
Twenty years ago, Republicans futilely tried to stave off a midterm defeat by vilifying House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Today, Hakeem Jeffries is a less inviting target. Enter Hasan Piker.
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El-Sayed May Be Winning. But He Should Run Like He’s Losing
If the Democrats’ brash Senate nominee in Michigan believes only the good polls and not the bad, he may wrongly conclude he need not adjust to woo swing voters.
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Americans Like Moderate Politicians and Progressive Policies, But Not Socialism
If Democrats focus on the vast terrain where liberals and moderates agree, they can build a durable center-left coalition.
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Should We Ever Trust Polls Again?
After the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary and Michigan Senate primary, we need to remind ourselves that polls are snapshots of public opinion at best, not firm predictions.
Posted inPolitics
Internal Polls Flopped in Michigan and Hawaii. How Will They Do in Minnesota and Wisconsin?
Pollsters affiliated with Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign wrongly projected a landslide victory. Now internals from Peggy Flanagan and David Crowley face an acid test.
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To Mend Fences in Michigan, El-Sayed Should Stop Talking About Israel
Enough young critics of Israel were in Michigan’s Democratic primary electorate for Abdul El-Sayed to eke out a narrow victory. The general electorate is a different story.
