The Rise of the ‘Dude-Bro’ Candidate

Wall Street Journal: “Consider the following qualifications for public office: An accusation of sexual misconduct or marital infidelity; voluntary or involuntary association with any of the following: Tucker Carlson, Hasan Piker or Joe Rogan; use of a racial slur in a public appearance or online post; publicly brawling or picking a fight.”

“Not long ago, ticking any one of these boxes would have meant disqualification. Today, they are effectively bona fides.”

“That, at least, seems to be the political calculation of the dudebro candidate, an emerging type who has dominated the political conversation this primary season. And while the actual electoral results thus far are mixed, the collective precedent is already upsetting long-held assumptions about what it takes to run for office.”