They had been careful not to repeat the mistake of the summer of 2018, when the candidacy of an unknown young activist, named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (A. O. C), challenged the powerful outgoing centrist Democrat, Joe Crowley. When Jamaal Bowman launched his campaign against Eliot Engel, for the 17 e constituency in New York, the establishment decided not to take it down. We could not find two profiles so dissimilar yet members of the same political family. The first: African-American, founder of an alternative school refusing the standardization of tests, projected into the arena by Justice Democrats, the same group that had bet on A. O. C. Supported by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. The second: elected since 1989, unwavering support of Israeli governments, defender in 2003 of the intervention in Iraq, powerful chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Supported by Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and even by the “Black Caucus” (committee of black MPs). On the evening of the primary which took place on Tuesday, the score was final: 60% for Bowman.
Three very progressive New York MPs could enter Congress
In two other New York constituencies, the most progressive candidates hold the line, while it is still necessary to count the very many postal votes. In the 15 e constituency (Bronx) which votes 90% Democrat, Ritchie Torres, openly gay candidate is ahead of Ruben Diaz, a Democrat opposed to abortion and gay marriage. In the 17 e, where the outgoing Democrat was not running, Mondaire Jones, also openly gay, African-American, largely won in these suburbs of the white middle class. Next November, three very progressive New York deputies could therefore enter Congress to join A. O. C., wide winner of her primary with 72% of the vote. Should we see, in the most affected city in the country, a “post-coronavirus” political effect for the most radical candidates, including the increasingly popular Medicare for All proposal?
The standoff between the left and the establishment continues in the “local” primaries
More broadly, while the presidential primary has been played since the announced withdrawal of Bernie Sanders, the standoff between the left and the establishment continues in the “local” primaries. “Progressive candidates have kicked out incumbents in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington DC or New Mexico in elections that mark the end of the old generation of the political establishment.”, notes The Hill, a website specializing in American politics. “Some of the victors identify themselves as democratic socialists. Others stick to the label “progressives”. But all of them are younger than the leavers they beat, a sign for many that the millennial generation is starting to make its mark on the Democratic Party ”, adds the site.
In Pennsylvania, the process started in 2018, with the victory of two “socialist” candidates against two outgoing candidates, has accelerated with no less than four outgoing defeats in the primaries. A spokesperson for Bernie Sanders praised the wave of victories: “The senator said during his campaign that it is about building a movement, not just electing a president. He is using all his power to bring out candidates who will come forward with a daring program for the families of employees that the country so badly needs. “
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