One more thing about McBride and Young
I took a second to step back and collect my thoughts about the Young/McBride primary and fwiw, here you go:
I have previously mentioned that there are Democratic primaries I like and ones I don’t like. When a Madinah takes out an John Viola in a democratic primary, for example. That’s a good primary. When a Jess Scarane takes on the task of throwing a spotlight on the wretchedness of Chris Coons, that it a good primary. In those matchups there are two very different political viewpoints getting airtime and battling it out.
In the case of McBride versus Young I think the candidates are too close in terms of political philosphy. There are both outsiders of a sort and appear eager to bring a defense of the marginalized, and a fresh voice of reform to our gerontocractic congress. Of course, their partisans will take exception to that characterization. And that is exactly the problem.
Since the political viewpoints of the candidates are close, it’s gonna come down to personalities. While the candidates may be able to stay above the fray, there’s no way that the surrogates will avoid trying to tear down the opposition. They basically have to. And therefor, this will be a damaging primary for the Democratic Party.
If it was held today, and I wish it was, I’d probably vote for Sarah McBride. I feel like I know her better and although I’ve seen that she is cut from some of the the old “Delaware Way” cloth, I think she’d bring a vitality and energy to congress that it sorely lacking. She’d also be the 3rd or 4th highest ranking Democrat in the state and would similarly bring vitality and energy to that sad sack organization. Maybe I’m wrong about her being able to do something new with the old “Delaware Way” cloth, but as in any election, you make a choice and hope for the best.
That said, it is early and I am persuadable.
This isn’t 1970 people. Demographics in this state have changed drastically in the last 20yrs. Veiled comments that infer that the only black people in DE live in Wilmington is crazy in 2023. The densest area of black voters in the state is between the Rt 9 corridor and Middletown now. Please stop connecting black candidates to Wilmington as though that’s the only place they get support. Also, there is a very large amount of black and Latino voters in Central and western Sussex, if any of you decide to journey passed Lewes and Bethany.
Minor Correction, sir. Madinah Wilson-Anton beat John Viola. Earl Jaques was defeated by Eric Morrison. Nevertheless, your point is well taken. the best primaries are those where there is an ideological difference. There certainly was in the two above. Where there are few, if any, ideological differences between candidates, as there seems to be in between Sarah McBride and Eugene Young ( throw Colleen Davis into the equation and there are obvious differences), the race exists mostly because an open seat is a rarity and we have two ambitious candidates. There is no harm done if the contest is one of qualifications, vision, and ability. If there are no personal attacks, and I don’t see that happening with these two, the winner of the Primary will cost to a general election victory with a united party.
As a Sussex Countian, I can state that Sarah McBride is well known here and is also well respected. Those of us who have heard her speak come away impressed with a person who speaks well, has a warm personality and is well versed on most all issues. Two months ago Sarah spoke at an Episcopal Church in Bethany Beach. When she was done speaking, she received a standing ovation from the 100+ attendees, most all of who were not political and many are Republicans. Eugene Young is not known down here. With its population growth, the Democratic Primary vote in Sussex will be similar to that vote in Wilmington- unless there is a hotly contested primary for Wilmington mayor. I don’t hear excitement for Velda Potter.
This isn’t 1970 people. Demographics in this state have changed drastically in the last 20yrs. Veiled comments that infer that the only black people in DE live in Wilmington is crazy in 2023. The densest area of black voters in the state is between the Rt 9 corridor and Middletown now. Please stop connecting black candidates to Wilmington as though that’s the only place they get support. Also, there is a very large amount of black and Latino voters in Central and western Sussex, if any of you decide to journey passed Lewes and Bethany.
My comment on the Wilmington vote is NOT a reference to where Black voters live. It is a political reality that the city’s African-American churches have a great influence over how their parishioners vote It is also a political reality that younger voters have the lowest percentage turnout in primaries and the highest turnout is from older voters. Older voters make up most regular parishioners. It is probable that the leaders of the African-American churches in Wilmington will be supporting Eugene Young. His race is only one of two main factors in that choice.
As one heads south from the Wilmington area, African-American churches have much less influence on their own communities and are less likely to take political stands- with the exception of rallying parishioners against pro-LGBTQ legislation- hence the second factor.
Most African-American voters will vote for Eugene Young, if they know he is Black Most LGBTQ voters will vote for Sarah McBride. There is nothing wrong with that. It is a matter of pride, evidence of which is Lisa Blunt Rochester’s Facebook posts informing people that if elected she would likely be the only African-American woman in the US Senate.
Thanks for the correction.
I like Sarah… but I wouldn’t call her an outsider by a longshot. Hard to be an outsider when you’re on all the cable news channels, raising money from national PACs, and you’ve spoken at a Democratic National Convention during primetime. I’m certain she’ll have a lot of celebrity endorsements to match all of her legislative endorsements as well. This isn’t a knock on her, but not sure how you consider that being an outsider.
I’ve seen Sarah mobilize donors, stakeholders, and legislators, but I just haven’t seen her mobilize the masses of everyday people like Eugene does. But this may be beneficial to her when it comes to who could play the game more effectively in DC and get things done. 🤷🏿♂️
On the other hand I’ve never seen a candidate bring together so many people like Eugene does. It was over 400ppl at Eugene’s announcement; From various backgrounds and walks of life. The crowd literally spilled out of the building. Black, white, latino, young, old, gay straight, and even trans. I haven’t been in a room with that kind of energy around a candidate in a very long time. A stark difference between that and Sarah’s announcement video. I like Sarah for her policy ideas, but if I’m true to supporting a candidate whose campaign is built on people power, I have to support Eugene.
You know the old saying about yard signs? Yard signs don’t vote. Well, events don’t win elections. An event makes a good photo opportunity for people who are already paying attention, but far more Delawareans saw, engaged with, and shared Sarah’s announcement video than anything around a single event. I just got an email yesterday from Sarah’s campaign sharing that something like 800 Delawareans from most of the cities and towns in the state have donated to her campaign and hundreds have signed up to volunteer. Might not be a picture, but campaigns aren’t won through pictures or events. They are won through reach. Sarah’s already reaching more and she rivals based on what her campaign has shared on people power regardless of whether she had an event or not.
I think a bunch of people on this blog are too quick to think that this race gets negative. I don’t think either Eugene or Sarah benefit from this race going negative from a whole host of reasons and so they won’t. They will likely have supporters who do, but elections can bring out the worst in people. I’ve already heard about both candidates speaking well of each other, which I think is a good look for them.
Your comment reminds me of anther reason I don’t like this primary. Young gets nothing for another 2nd place finish.
Totally agree with you: The candidates will not go negative on each other, because the backlash would be hellacious. I know that I would vote against whichever one went negative, and I think many others would feel the same way.
It pains me that only one of them can win. As I said elsewhere, in a more perfect world Sarah and Eugene would be our two Senators. Maybe someday they will be.
Sarah stikes me as someone who wanted to be a politician since a kid. It’s literally all she knows and has done for money to make a living to this point. That bio never draws me in. At the same time shes friendly and I have no qualms about her if was to win.
I just think Eugene is more well rounded person if that makes any sense. He knows what it likes to have kids, to work hard, to hustle. His dad was not some wealthy Wilmingotn attorney. Sorry if that comment bothers some but I know i’m not the only voter who identifies with bios.
Trust me some people will vote for Sarah JUST because shes Trans. So it cuts both ways folks.
The Republican will just have to prep two kinds of attack ads – one anti-Black, the other anti-trans.
I think this post finally puts my feelings into words. And some of the comments prove its necessity. In my dream world, the election timelines for all the statewide roles and for party roles would be better aligned. I’d love for Eugene to be State Party Chair for a while, and for the whole of the party to take more seriously the availability of another Congressional seat in the next Census. Start building infrastructure, start building a bench, start building trust. I really do think we could have done it last time if we had more regularly engaged with folks who don’t regularly engage in politics. And I think Eugene knows more of those people. I’m also concerned that Colleen’s ability to loan herself significant funds will become a deciding factor in which one of her opponents wins. She’s gone negative in the past, it will just depend on who she targets and which hits lands. Shes the absurd no label’s person of this race.
I think it will be close enough that the votes for Davis added to the loser’s total would make the loser the winner. But why would she spend a bunch of her own money to sabotage one but not the other? Wouldn’t it be easier just to smear them both at the same time?
I’m guessing she’s running in the hopes that two progressives would split the vote. But she has next to no Democratic constituency of her own. It at least gives her something to do since her no-show job doesn’t.
Now that you mention it, there are several people I’ve come into contact with who would make great State chairs, and infuse progressive energy into the Party. Some of them are with WFP and/or Network Delaware, but they’re mostly registered D’s. Man, now I’m excited.
Both very nice people, and obviously Sarah’s courage is an inspiration.
Having worked with Sarah, I do not believe she will (or has) challenged the “Delaware Way”. Her work to date has been consistent with business as usual in the Senate and she has not deviated from the “system”. I don’t see her as a leader or revolutionary figure (from an institutional standpoint) at all. Certainly she is a revolutionary figure in her role as a trans advocate – but as an actual Senator she has not strayed from the Delaware Way in the least.
What concerns me the most however is how spectacularly milke toast her record is thus far. She has not had brought about any original or groundbreaking legislation on her own. Her biggest legislative accomplishment was passing a bill that had been in the works for a decade before she walked in the door.
On other progressive issues she does not have a ‘progressive’ record. Certainly not as it pertains to issues facing minority communities.
This is not a slam. Nor is it an endorsement of Young.
Sarah is a brave woman but that does not translate in to a great legislator or is, in and of itself, deserving of being elected to Congress.
I would like to see a different Sarah in the next year of her career as a legislator. Take on other progressive issues in addition to those facing the LGBTQ community (while obv continuing those efforts). What I would want to see is a focus on the african american community, opposing the newly (or renewed) FAR right leaning DOJ (wtf happened with Jennings is another topic), civil rights issues, KEYNSIAN ECONOMICS, etc.
Lets see her break stride with her colleagues and put up some resistance to Carney and company.
Otherwise what I see right now is not someone I would support. I dont want another Delaware Way Carper-ite even if she is one of the bravest people I know.
She passed paid medical and family leave. I doubt that any other legislator could have. She had hearings up and down the state. It was her initiative. I mean, what more do you want?
This after having already gotten landmark gay rights legislation passed even BEFORE she was a legislator.
If you’re an ‘Inside Person’, I think I know whose campaign you’re inside of. I certainly recognize the meme you’re pushing.
I would like to see the Blacks in the General Assembly focus on improving life for the Black community. They would seem like more natural leaders in such a movement but some of them are too busy kissing the hem of garments of the people keeping them down.
What’s the basis for “the far right leaning DOJ”?
Also, what votes has she taken against the minority community?
Paid medical leave was absolutely NOT her initiative.
That effort was begun far before her tenure.
It’s an insult to the actual creators of that bill to attribute it to her.
I’d also point out that besides glomming on to Representative Heffernan and Bentz’s bill, she really hasn’t accomplished anything of import for the progressive community.
I’d further posit that her voting record is anti-progressive on everything but LGBTQ+ issues and women’s issues.
That’s from someone who cares about her. And no I’m not a Young devotee. Or, god forbid, Davis.
She is a Carper-ite through and through and you’ll be disappointed with her as a congresswoman.
Review her voting record and you’ll agree with me.
This is demonstrably wrong. Heffernan’s bill was for paid parental leave for state employees. No one was talking about private sector paid leave or a new social insurance program. There was no bill on it before Sarah and she literally had to create a statewide coalition (Delaware Cares) to push for it because no orgs were pushing it. I was on one of those meetings where Sarah had to convince advocacy groups to start pushing for private sector paid leave.
And her voting record is anti-progressive? She was a cosponsor of police reform. She was a cosponsor of progressive tax system. She is a cosponsor of probation reform. She is a cosponsor of gun bills. She may have one or two moderate votes, but the only senator more progressive than McBride is Pinkney.
The LEOBOR bill is complete BS and if you aren’t aware of that you’re totally out of the loop.
They wouldn’t even allow advocates to participate.
So yeah, police weighed in on the police bill of rights and no one else.
You’re not paying attention.
Clearly you aren’t paying attention. I was referring to SB 149. She cosponsored the one that the advocates supported. Yes, she voted with every Dem in the Senate for the more incremental bill that passed, but she also cosponsored the gold standard bill:
https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=78766
Anon1 is correct. They are aware that paying attention isn’t the same as paying selective attention.
So people were supposed to do what, vote AGAINST the LEOBOR bill and thereby leave the status quo in place?
It’s a shitty bill, but that’s Lockman’s fault, not McBride’s.
You have an ideologue’s idea of what a progressive is.
Lying will get you banned. ‘Inside Person’, or ‘Inside Woman’, you are on notice. One more, and sayonara.
So here’s the bullshit on the IW comment: McBride worked for Markell, not Carper.
They’re both centrists, but not the same. So to say she’s “a Carperite through and through” is bullshit. The Carper people are also the Carney people, the same machine curated and pushed them both. Markell and Biden are not part of that machine. Centrists all, but again, not all the same.
Inaccurate crap like that won’t fly very far here. We have too much institutional knowledge for that.
Hey Inside Woman/Person as a Eugene supporter, I agree your assessment of Sarah is off base as many on this thread have already said. She was in fact one of the few original sponsors of SB 149, the LEOBOR bill that should have happened. And she is not a Carper-ite at all as someone mentioned she was a Markell supporter and friend. Now the Paid Family leave act was a novel idea running around the legislature before Sarah was there (true), but no one gets credit for an idea. Sarah worked that bill like no other and as someone who sat in on several stakeholder meetings never saw Heffernan until the public appearances and a primary so please don’t act like she is any kind of legislator. When someone is handed bill after bill that requires no real work is just performative (and lazy). When Deb presented that bill in the House she actually had to have Sarah there because she couldn’t answer any of the questions. Sarah also happens to be my senator and is a damn good one on constituent services.
Now after all that I am still a Eugene supporter but it’s not an easy choice. Bane is right Eugene has the ability to bring diversity and masses together. Also if you are actually an insider then you’d know the house would not look like it does without Eugene & Drew (iykyk).
This race will be tough but Eugene will work on the people who feel disenfranchised and haven’t voted and we will see how that works out. It will be a true test of people power.
And as far as Davis watch for the registered number of Democrats to increase and the Republican to decrease as she will pull a Meyer/Purziki move and get them to switch parties, god help us if she wins.
I don’t think Davis will convince many people to switch parties. It’s one thing to get upstate, well-off Republicans to switch parties – they dislike the slackjawed yokels almost as much as we do.
Those slackjawed yokels, OTOH, actually think it matters which party they register with. Most will stay loyal to the GOP.
Besides, Davis will not siphon a single vote away from either Young or McBride. Anybody who votes for her wouldn’t have voted for either of the other two anyway.
The big R to D switch was during the Markell-Carney primary. With Purzycki and Eugene being the second, and likely last, important exodus.
Not much more left but RWNJ’s in Delaware’s tiny GOP tent any more.
Not to mention (but I will), that D registration in lower slower already significantly underestimates how many of those old southern D’s routinely vote for R’s.