The Rising Tide of Economic Populism

I wrote an article a few days back about the growing evidence that an economically populist message will help Democrats win this election in the battleground states and congressional districts we need. But there is a fascinating trend line even in red states that populism could help us win the day there as well.

The American Prospect recently profiled three Senate races in three of the reddest states around: Nebraska, Missouri, and North Dakota. In all three cases, there is an independent minded, working-class oriented economic populist running against Republican incumbents who are not particularly popular even though the states are very Republican.

The article is more pessimistic about the chances of these three candidates than the reality on the ground.

In Nebraska, a former local union president, Dan Osborn, is running as an Independent rather than as a Democrat, and has been tied or within the margin of error in a series of credible polls. Republicans are going after him hard, but so far he has been hanging tough in the polling. 

In Missouri, voters have not loved Sen. Josh Hawley's weird antics. The Democrat in the race, Lucas Kunce, has been running a few points behind, but the campaign’s internal polling shows a clear path to victory. When his campaign sketched out attacks and counter-attacks from both sides, Kunce comes out clearly ahead. Kunce has proven himself a good fundraiser, and Missouri has a recent history of close Senate races.

The third race is the most surprising of all. It’s in North Dakota, where incumbent Sen. Kevin Cramer’s margin has been cut in half in recent weeks. The campaign’s polling shows that if the Democrat, Katrina Christiansen, has the resources to make her case and hit hard at Cramer, it moves her into a dead heat.

Working-class oriented populism is a very powerful thing right now. Voters want politicians who will fight hard for them against greedy companies that are price gouging and taking their jobs overseas. Even in red states, populist Democrats are showing they can compete with this message. 

We need to take at least one Senate seat away from the Republicans this cycle. Take a good look at these candidates and consider pitching in.