Evan McLaughlin

Pete Wilson, call your office.

Here’s your Redistricting War scorecard.

I don’t know where this idea came from. But anyone who understands CA politics knows that in a Dem on Dem race the independents and Republicans can be the deciding factor… none of these Dems are trying to increase Republican turnout, but encouraging them to vote for you instead of your opponent has been a part of the process since 2012 implementation of the Top Two. (A top two system that the CA Dem congressional delegation opposed) The progressive challengers appeal to the Republicans saying “my opponent is an incumbent who is an entrenched part of the Democratic establishment” and the more establishment incumbents will say “I may be liberal and a Democrat, but I’m more experienced and trustworthy than my upstart opponent.” Both are trying to peel off some of these votes. And it’s true on the Rep v. Rep side too… @KenCalvert and @YoungKimCA who got shoved into a single Southern California Republican seat under Prop 50 (you’re welcome!) they both are telling Democrats that the other is worse than them, in hopes of getting their votes - but nobody on the Right is accusing them of trying to increase Dem turnout. I’m not here to pick a fight with @hasanthehun but someone has to pushback on this unhealthy and irresponsible narrative that any of the Democrats are trying to help Republican turnout. Many of these Democrats are the very same members who voted to go forward with Prop 50 which carved up their old seats, with the direct purpose of pushing back on Republican gerrymandering in Texas. They lost parts of their districts they had represented for years, and that sacrifice means that they shouldn’t be accused of now a year later supposedly working to help Republican turnout.