Establishment Democrats Thump AOC And The Far Left In Special Election

The Democrat establishment sent a clear message Tuesday night as Shontel Brown beat out far-left progressive Nina Turner in a special congressional primary election.

Turner was trailing Brown 51 to 44 percent a little after 10 p.m. when the race was called by the Associated Press.

While much focus is put on the GOP and the pro-Trump vs. anti-Trump factions of the party, the Democrats have their own set of chasms – Turner was a favorite of the ‘Squad,’ and far-left figures like AOC campaigned for her. 

Brown was favored by leading figures in the Congressional Black Caucus, and was endorsed by the likes of James Clyburn.

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Tried And True Progressive

Shontel Brown may have secured her win in Ohio, not just because she had the backing of the Democrat establishment, many of whom realize they may be headed for big trouble in 2022, but perhaps Ohioans did their research on Nina Turner.

Turner is a former State Senator who worked on both of socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders presidential campaigns. She got endorsements from Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. 

A quick perusal of Nina Turner’s website checks off all the far left progressive boxes.

She touts “economic justice,” “environmental justice,” and “reimagining” public safety. You will find things like supporting a $15 an hour minimum wage, the new green deal, free public college and canceling student debt.

But even with good financial backing, she still blamed her loss on opposing super PACS. “I am going to work hard to ensure that something like this never happens to a progressive candidate again. We didn’t lose this race — the evil money manipulated and maligned this election.”

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Hostile To The Party

Nina Turner made no secret of a certain amount of distain she has for her own party. She was vocal about her feelings not just about Joe Biden, but also about Hillary Clinton and some Democrat Party leaders.

She even went as far in an interview to compare voting for Joe Biden to eating excrement. That is probably not going to earn endorsements from the party.

But it is the dilemma the Democrats find themselves in a year out from the midterm elections. If the far left progressive wing of the party are the unruly teenagers, the establishment is going to have to find an issue, a candidate, or both that all can rally around. 

Sean McElwee, cofounder of a liberal polling outfit called Data for Progress laid out what progressives are going to have to bring themselves to do if they want their candidates to win, “Democratic voters like the Democratic Party. Progressives need to show that we support the Democratic Party living up to it’s true values, not trying to tear it down.”

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Those In The Most Awkward Position

Perhaps one of the most fascinating things to observe about this particular election, was the position the Congressional Black Caucus found itself in.

Members of the CBC endorsed Shontel Brown, and in the process made some back-handed shots at Turner.

CBC Chairwoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH), said she believed that Brown would want to support the CBC instead of “Making a name for themselves.” 

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY)  was concerned about someone coming in, “to break up that unity,” and did not believe that Brown would do that.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) may have been the most obvious in his opposition to Turner, saying that Shontel Brown would be a “single solitary know-it-all.”   

Not only did Shontel Brown, a former Cuyahoga County Councilwoman get the endorsement of Hillary Clinton, but also of James Clyburn, whose endorsement of Joe Biden was seen as the turning point in the Democratic primary season propelling Biden to victory on Super Tuesday and ultimately the White House.