Democrats Go Safe in Swing Seats, Hard Left In Blue Ones

“Democrats didn’t take many chances in critical November battlegrounds on Tuesday,” Politico reports.

“Voters played it safe in picking establishment-backed Josh Turek to take on GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson for an open Senate seat in Iowa and putting up moderate military veteran Rebecca Bennett against Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in one of the most competitive House districts in the country.”

“The results were more mixed in bluer territory. In Los Angeles, embattled Mayor Karen Bass advanced to a runoff early Wednesday morning. But in New Jersey, progressive Adam Hamawy, a U.S. Army veteran with a complicated personal history who has been sharply critical of Israel’s war in Gaza, emerged from a 12-candidate primary to succeed progressive retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman in a safe district.”

“It’s a split screen that shows Democrats are attempting to reconcile their desire for electability in tough races with the demands of a base that has shifted to the left on Israel and other key issues.”