I live in California’s 42cd Congressional district, currently held by a long-time republican, Ken Calvert. Calvert has no imagination, no accomplishments, nothing that suggests he does a good job other than his unending opposition to anything proposed by Democrats. In short, he is a useless individual.
Running against Calvert this cycle is Tim Sheridan. Sheridan is a decent, hard-working democratic candidate who publically supports many of the goals of democrats nationwide – investment in infrastructure and clean jobs, access to education, voting rights, expanding veteran access to medical and education, LBGT rights – in short a typical democrat.
While this district is considered conservative, republicans hold about a 7 point voter registration advantage so a democrat should have a chance in a mid-tem election.
Unfortunately, I think Sheridan is going to get soundly thrashed. Why? He’s following the path of democratic candidates nationwide of campaigning just slightly left of the right wing republican incumbent.
Democrats need to follow the example of the tea party in its early years, providing a real reason to vote for them. Speak out about the things most democrats believe in – gun control, expansion of social security, support for women’s right to choose, free college or technical training and a change in tax codes to stop the growing wealth inequality that is destroying the nation’s economy.
Don’t just try to be slightly less looney than the republican, offer the voters a real choice. Being afraid to challenge voters or upset the right-wing is not going to get you elected. Candidates have to offer the electorate a choice. Support the status quo and the direction the nation is heading or reboot the economy and our social system. Being less obnoxious that the current incumbent is not going to get democratic candidates elected. There is no reason to vote for someone new when they offer nothing that the voter won’t get from the current incumbent.