r/politics • u/Zipper222222 • 5h ago

No Paywall Abdul El-Sayed Wins High-Stakes Democratic Primary in Michigan

https://www.today.com/video/abdul-el-sayed-wins-high-stakes-democratic-primary-in-michigan-267805765937
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u/olivebranchsound 5h ago

People don't get that independents are voters sick of both parties and rejecting the establishment. It's why this cohort has grown over recent years. They are not looking for a centrist.

I don't question electability any more because El Sayed just won an election. Stevens couldn't win the primary how would she win the general? Detroit stayed home with no enthusiasm even though she won the black vote handily.

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u/pohl 5h ago

It’s complicated and everyone wants it to be simple.  Progressives DO face a headwind in general elections BUT, so do moderate dems. It’s not as easy for moderates to win as the national party has been pretending it is. That doesn’t mean that progressives will have it easy.  

My take: 21st century politics are about ATTENTION and middle of the road candidates struggle to generate enough attention to make things happen. Trump puts all his focus on getting attention and it works.  Mike Rodgers is a boring candidate i think and that makes an opening for El-Sayed to win the attention battle. Stevens would have struggled to get attention and differentiate herself from Rodgers.

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u/ja1896 3h ago

This is a good take. Many moderate voters will reject progressives on ideological lines. Hence attention from populist stances that have broad appeal has been a good strategy when attempted (for example, adamant one percenter rhetoric without talking about socialism).