So, I just did the sacred duty of all American citizens, which was cast a ballot. To get the Big Question out of the way, yes, I voted for Clinton at the top of the ticket.
But moving down-ballot, I noticed something. There’s a LOT of people running for office (virtually) unopposed here in Denton County, North Texas. Every office but one had a Republican candidate. Most had a Libertarian candidate. About half (mostly at the top of the ticket) had Democratic candidates, along with a few Green candidates.
This is both a failing of the Democratic Party, and an opportunity. Whenever someone runs unopposed, they are secure in their office — they don’t have to answer to their record, or play it safe when it comes to their social media presence. This means they can indulge a bit more in the pie fights that go on when we talk about other candidates on the ticket.
However, if one other person gets their name on the ballot in that spot, then the incumbent is no longer ‘secure’. They have to engage in an actual effort to defend their title. They have to participate in the election campaign process. They have to enunciate, if not their strengths, at least their record contrasted with that of “their opponent”.
So, there’s a lot of room for Progressives to put some pressure on these offices in N. Texas, and possibly a lot of “investment opportunity” for the DNC to send donation funding, or marshal GOTV efforts. It’s fallow ground.
Granted, the locals may prefer the Republicans currently occupying the local and state offices. But at the same time… there’s nothing wrong with a challenger or two.