You know what happens to conservative Democrats who run away from their party, push the party toward the center, and block Democratic objectives in the name of "moderation"?
They lose.
There were only 19 members of the Blue Dog Coalition left this morning (down from 54 in 2008).
Let's see how they did...
Ron Barber in Arizona? Lost.
Georgia's John Barrow, who voted against Obamacare? Stomped, 54-45.
Sanford Bishop is a pro-life conservative who voted against Obamacare and held on handily in a majority-black district that ought to be sending a progressive to the house.
Cheri Bustos SUPPORTS Obamacare, supports the DREAM act and opposed extension of the Bush tax cuts. SHE won reelection in her rural Illinois district.
Jim Cooper was gerrymandered into a heavily Democratic district in Nashville, TN, and will continue to be re-elected as long as he's breathing - even though he voted in favor of Obamacare.
Jim Costa represents agricultural California - Merced to Fresno. He held out to the bitter end but ultimately voted for Obamacare. The League of Conservation Voters has called him out on his terrible environmental record. Pandering didn't do him any good - he lost.
Henry Cuellar got 82 percent in his heavily-Hispanic Texas district. The fact that he had no Republican running against him helped.
Pete Gallego was one of the good ones, voting for Obamacare, supporting abortion rights and renewable energy. He lost in a heartbreaker to a Black Texax Republican.
Dan Lipinski is a pro-life conservative who not only opposed Obamacare, but didn't back Obama for re-election in 2012. Even so, his Chicago district is so heavily Democratic that he cruised to re-election. We could have a better Dem here.
Jim Matheson retired rather than face another difficult re-election in Utah. His district went GOP.
Mike McIntyre retired and his NC district went GOP.
Mike Michaud retired to lose the Maine Governor's race and his district went GOP.
Blue Dog founding member Colin Peterson held on by the skin of his Obamacare-opposing teeth in a Minnesota district that went narrowly for Romney.
Nick Rahall, WV, gone.
Loretta Sanchez held on just fine in California's conservative Orange County... despite a 0% approval rating from the American Conservative Union. See? It can be done.
Kurt Schrader managed to get re-elected in his moderate Oregon district despite being pro-choice and voting for Obamacare. See? See?
David Scott cruised in his heavily-Black Atlanta district.
Kyrsten Sinema cruised to re-election while championing the DREAM act, abortion rights, LGBT rights and the environment (See!?!)
Mike Thompson is a pro-choice Catholic who supported the public option (!), the environment, and chairs the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force (!!!). The GOP didn't even bother opposing his re-election.
So... what's the score?
Democratic Blue Dog Democrats: 7 wins, 1 loss
GOP-Lite Blue Dog Democrats: 4 wins, 4 losses.
Number of returning Blue Dogs in the next Congress: 11