CAN KAMALA HARRIS HELP DEMOCRATS KEEP CONTROL OF THE MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES?
Question 1): The political world has been turned upside down in the past week, with President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from his re-election race. Vice President Kamala Harris is now the almost certain Democratic presidential nominee. Throw out the polls. Michigan Democrats appear re-energized, and what looked like a likely Donald Trump win in November now seems much more precarious for the Republicans. There are still more than three months to go, however, and nobody can be sure how Harris will present herself to the voters. Her image has been of a West Coast liberal, to the left of Biden. Will she try to change that perception? Can she? Trump still might win Michigan, but perhaps not by the 3% (or more) margin that polls showed him beating Biden by. If Harris squeaks out a victory, she is unlikely to have significant ‘coattails’ for down-ballot Democrats, but surveys have also indicated that those same Democrats are holding their own, regardless of who is at the top of their ticket. So, here’s the question: Is Harris’s performance in Michigan likely to affect whether Democrats in the Michigan House of Representatives can hold onto their current slim 56-54-seat majority, or not?
Answer 1): It will be a touch-and-go nail-biter all the way to the end — a battle that will be determined by the quality of the legislative candidates and campaigns, along with voter enthusiasm which until now appeared to favor Republicans. The Democrats took a bare majority of seats in 2022 when their top of the ticket was winning by 10+ points. All signs point to a close race at the top of the ticket this year, whether Trump or Harris wins. That gives Republicans a far better chance than they had two years ago. House Democrats sitting in Trump-type seats, especially in Macomb Co., are more vulnerable today than the Republicans sitting in Biden-type seats, like those in Oakland Co.
One thing that’s unusual this year is that, with the amended term limits approved by the state’s voters in 2022, there has not been the mass exodus of incumbents that we’ve seen for the past four decades. There are only eight open seats, four for the Democrats and four for the GOP. The path to a majority for each party does NOT lie in those open districts, because the four Dem seats are out of reach for the Republicans. Likewise, there’s little or no chance a Democrat can win any of the four open districts now held by Republicans. So the key is knocking off incumbents in the general election, always a tough thing to do for either party.
One important development could prove to be a factor. MIRS newsletter reported this past week that Michigan Democrats will receive $1.14 million from the national Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), which is more than the $1,074,000 the DLCC gave eight chambers in five other states combined.
Also, MIRs reports that numbers collected by AdImpact showed that House Democrats and their allies have either spent or reserved $17.3 million in television and digital spending for the 2023-24 campaign cycle. That’s way more than the Democrats have in cash-on-hand now, so are they just hoping, or even bluffing?
How about House Republicans? Their comparable numbers are not so robust — the GOP and its allies have spent or reserved less than $200,000 (See “House D’s Have $17.3M In Ad Spending Reserved; GOP $200K,” 6/24/24). However, House Republicans counter the Democrats’ bragadoccio by noting that they have more than $7 million cash on hand, while Democrats have about $6.5 million.
But, first things first. We should watch the August 6 primary closely, because in several cases whoever wins the GOP primary could make a difference in whether Republicans have a better-than-even chance to knock off a sitting Democrat in November. For example, the 27th, 38th, 103rd, and 109th Districts (see below) all have competitive Republican primaries where whoever the winner turns out to be will be key to whether the Republicans should be favored in November (again, see below). Whatever is predicted now must be reassessed after the results of the Aug. 6 primary are known. Here’s how things look today:
22nd District: (NW Wayne Co., Livonia, Northville, Plymouth). Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth), Re-elected ’22, 54.3%; Biden ’20, 52%. Lean Democrat.
27th District: (Downriver Wayne Co,, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile Twp, Riverview, Southgate, Trenton, Wyandotte). Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte), Elected ’22, 50.8%; Trump ‘2o, 52%. Battle between two youngsters for the Republican nomination — Rylee Linting of Grosse Ile and Cody Dill of Gibraltar — could determine whether GOP has a chance here. Tilt Democrat.
28th District: (Downriver Wayne Co. & Northern Monroe Co., Flat Rock, Rockwood, Taylor, Woodhaven, Brownstown, Frenchtown). Jamie Thompson (R-Brownstown), Elected ’22, 51%; Trump ’20, 52.2%. Lean Republican.
38th District: (Staircase Lake Michigan shoreline of Berrien, Allegan, and Van Buren Counties). Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph), Elected ’22, 52%; Biden ’20, 54%. Who will win the GOP primary? It’s either Kevin Whiteford, the 2022 Republican nominee (and husband of a former House member) or realtor George Lucas, who lost narrowly to Whiteford in a GOP primary in 2022 but would have arguably been a stronger nominee against the current incumbent because he’s from vote-rich Berrien Co. Toss-up.
31st District: (Parts of Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw & Wayne Cos.). Reggie Miller (D-Belleville), Elected ’22, 52.3%; Biden ’20, 50%. Tilt Democrat.
44th District: (Battle Creek and Albion & northern tier of Calhoun Co.). Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek), Re-elected ’22, 52.2%; Trump ’20, 50%. Calhoun Co. Commissioner Steve Frisbie appears to be the likely Republican nominee. Lean Democrat.
46th District: (Jackson and Chelsea and parts of Jackson & Washtenaw Cos.). Kathy Schmaltz (R-Jackson), Elected ’22, 54.4%; Trump ’20, 50.1%. Tilt Republican.
48th District: (Northern part of Ann Arbor and parts of Jackson, Livingston & Washtenaw Cos.). Jennifer Conlin (D-Ann Arbor), Elected ’22, 53.1%; Biden ’20, 52%. Tawn Beliger, a NorthfieldTwp trustee, and Brian Ignatowski of Pinckney are vying for the GOP nod. Lean Democrat.
55th District: (SE Oakland Co., including Rochester & Rochester Hills). Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills). Re-elected ’22, 51.8%; Biden ’20, 51.2%. Democrats have a primary but the winner is unlikely to get traction in the general. Likely Republican.
58th District: (Macomb Co., including Utica and pieces of Sterling Heights, Shelby Twp, and Warren). Nate Shannon (D-Sterling Heights), Re-elected ’22, 51.3%; Trump ’20, 52%. If Utica city councilman Ron Robinson wins the Republican primary, this could be trouble for the incumbent. Tilt Republican.
61st District: (Macomb Co., including Mt. Clemens & parts of Sterling Heights & Clinton Twp). Denise Mentzer (D-Mt. Clemens), Elected ’22, 52%; Trump, ’20, 50%. Another three-way Republican primary, the winner of which could pose a problem for the incumbent depending on what happens at the top of the ticket. Tilt Democrat.
76th District: (Most of Eaton Co., including Charlotte, Delta Twp, Eaton Rapids & Olivet). Angela Whitwer (D-Delta Twp) Re-elected ’22, 55.8%; Biden ’20, 51%. There’s a Republican primary, but it still looks Likely Democrat on Nov. 5.
83rd District: (Kent Co., including Wyoming & parts of Grand Rapids & Byron Twp). John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming), Elected ’22, 52.8%; Biden ’20, 54%. Tilt Democrat.
84th District: (Kent Co., including Walker & parts of Grand Rapids & Grandville). Carol Glanville (D-Walker), Elected ’22, 55.6%; Biden ’20, 54%. Lean Democrat.
86th District: (Holland & parts of Ottawa & Allegan Cos.). Nancy DeBoer (R-Holland), Elected ’22, 56.2%; Trump ’20, 50%. Likely Republican.
103rd District: (Traverse City & parts of Grand Traverse, Leelanau & Benzie Cos.). Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City), Elected ’22, 49.8%; Biden ’20, 52%. Another key GOP primary — who will it be? Lisa Trombley looks like the ideal nominee for the Republicans in this district, but will she be able to hold off the hard-charging MAGA conservative Katie Kniss on Aug. 6? Tilt Democrat.
109th District: (Marquette, Alger, & Baraga Counties + part of Dickinson Co.). Jenn Hill (D-Marquette), Elected ’22, 53%; Biden ’20, 50%. Another key GOP primary — will the Aug. 6 winner be perennial candidate Melody Wagner, who came her closest yet in the 2022 general in an open seat race, or longtime broadcaster Karl Bohnak? Interestingly, incumbent Democrat Jenn Hill has drawn a couple of primary challengers as well, maybe because of a series of tough ‘progressive’ votes on legislation that doesn’t go over well in the 109th. Toss-up.
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Don’t forget. If Representative Neil Friske wins his primary over second-time candidate Parker Fairbairn this safe Republican seat will almost certainly be won by Democrats, negating a GOP pickup elsewhere.
Representative Neil Friske has not been charged with any crime since he was arrested on June 20th.
Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane, a committed Democrat leading an office staffed by Democrats, returned the Friske case to LPD for further investigation. For whatever reason, LPD has not resubmitted any request for charges during the subsequent 5 weeks.
Something fishy here.
Dewane may holding off on authorizing an arrest warrant until Friske wins the primary.
The same thing is happening in Warren, where a major scandal has been reported on in the Macomb Daily involving Rep. Mai Xiong alleging that Court proceedings in Wisconsin show she has been the recipient of funds acquired by her sister in an alleged Ponzi scheme and used to purchase her Macomb County residence.
Warren’s Mai Xiong in an interview has denied the allegations – and there are questions why this alleged scandal has hit the news media just days before the primary election. A Democratic opponent named Richard Steenland will be conveniently on the primary ballot to seek the Dem nomination for her seat.
From Wayne County it’s certainly looks like two Dem incumbents Koleszar and Churches will be a reelected, From Ottawa County, incumbent Republican Nancy DeBoer will be reelected from Holland.
What I can’t get over is how one Presidential candidates’ speech has been described as “unhinged, weird and lapsing into disjointed jargon with bombast, hyperbole, and outright falsehoods.”
Outstanding comments of the highest credibility on “Off The Record” from Bill Ballenger
You failed to comment on the 58th District, where military veteran Ron Robinson is running a well-funded campaign against Democrat Nate Shannon.
The GOP almost took the seat in 2022 when Michelle Smith, who had no elected office experience and almost no MIGOP support, received 49% of the November general election vote.
GOP activists are hopeful the seat will turn red in 2024.
The 58th District is indeed covered in the roll call of key races …
Roger Goodrich is facing Ron Robinson in the GOP primary election in the 58th Michigan House District. Goodrich is an automotive engineer who has an interview uploaded to YouTube. He is a MAGA admirer.
Ron Robinson is a former U.S. Marine Corps soldier who has a campaign website calling for strong police and fire funding as well as addressing the opioid crisis in Michigan. Robinson has been the beneficiary of political action committees funding of bulk campaign mailings to voters supporting the candidacy of Robinson.
Robinson is expected to prevail in the primary against Goodrich and fight a competitive race in November against Nate Shannon.
“West Coast Liberal to the left of Biden”
Come on Bill give us a Break !
Be a real journalist not a bull shit artist !
Communist is as communist does . . .
And a Facist is a Facist !
Unbelievable!
Read “The Doctrine of Fascism” by Benito Mussolini (1932) and you will not only understand this political philosophy, but you will be able to spell it as well.
You will be quite upset to discover the politicians who are the most simpatico with Mussolini today.
The top of the ticket has to have some affect on lower offices, and since the state house is split 56-54, it could mean a major difference even if the number of votes affected is minimal. How Harris will do in Michigan depends more on the issues she decides to emphasize than avoiding an overly liberal tag. Biden was not a good speaker or persuader even at his best. Trump’s character is already well known, but the Democrats have failed to communicate Trump’s policy failures to the public. The Afghanistan treaty with the Taliban without participation of the Afghan government, requiring release of 5,000 Taliban fighters, and withdrawal on an impossible timeline, was just as much a failure as was the US withdrawal under Biden. Inflation is a major issue, and Trump had as much responsibility for it as the Biden administration, and maybe more (unnecessary deficit spending before Covid, major deficit spending during it, and agreement with major oil producing nations to reduce oil production still in effect when demand rose as Covid eased). Trump’s character and conduct on January 6 are known, but his policy failures have been virtually ignored. Harris will do better on offense attacking Trump on his policy failures rather than his character or playing defense for the Biden administration.
Nice article, Bill, and a fine appearance on a good Off The Record panel. It was nice to see Jim Kierzner and a repeat performance from Beth LeBlanc again.
Your assessment of Harris being to Biden’s left is correct, so her choice as VP will be interesting. For what it’s worth, my money is on Gov. Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
The GOP donor class seems to be sitting on their money. Again. Just curious, when their “preferred” candidates don’t win as they sit on their money, do we still have to listen to their whining? Of course, the Democrats did not do as much to them as they could (or should) have, maybe that’s why they are hoarding their cash.
Nice assessment on the races. Candidates – and money – matter (see previous paragraph). The dearth of candidates is a bit shocking. The 109th will probably be decided on how many NMU students show up as opposed to the Yoopers who really did not like her progressive votes. We will see if blind political rigidity has a price in the NW UP.
I think you meant the GOP challenger in the 48th is from Northfield Twp., not Northville (unless the MiCRC really screwed up the lines more than I thought). It’s nice to know that I am not the only one with “technology” issues.
Several points:
(A) I wonder if Kamala Harris will travel to Dearborn – as Cornel West and Jill Stein have this election cycle – and portray herself as a friend of Gaza – and will pro-Gaza Dearborn residents buy such an argument if presented given the Biden administration has funneled billions of dollars worth of weaponry to kill tens of thousands of Gazans?
(B) social media right now is circulating a Zoom! video interview with an inner city radio station in which Kamala Harris forcefully argues that “defunding the police” is a goal that citizens should strive for since the budgets of major U.S. cities often devote one-third of their budgets for funding law enforcement activities and suburban municipalities devote a far lesser percentage for police and far more for mental health and other social welfare programs – while this argument was eloquent and had a great deal of validity – it has undoubtedly alienated many voters and Donald Trump today pounded the lectern to voters about Kamala’s well-intentioned policy of defunding law enforcement
(C) the politically influential Times of Israel periodical published an op-ed warning pro-Israel readers that Kamala Harris could not be relied on to toe the line on support for the State of Israel as Biden has done and cited her public statement that she expressed the need to PM Netanyahu to end the Gaza War ASAP – Harris angered pro-Israel observers by skipping the address of PM Netanyahu to Congress;
(D) Harris will need to endorsement of major unions – and the Teamsters have been skittish of showing where they stood in 2024 before Biden withdrew from the race – the Teamsters have endorsed GOP presidential nominees previously;
(E) Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has not endorsed Harris and Tlaib has made it crystal clear that she will not until she is convinced that Harris is sufficiently committed to protecting Arabs in Gaza;
(F) Harris at 5’2” is the shortest presidential candidate in U.S. history – and the one-foot height difference between her and Donald Trump equals the differential when Abraham Lincoln squared off against Stephen Douglas in 1860;
(G) Kamala Harris will be the first left-wing Democrat to run as nominee for president since George McGovern in 1972 – he lost in a landslide. Harris will have to embrace neoliberalism as Bill Clinton did in 1992 and 1996.Neoliberalism is a path for her to victory in Michigan and other swing states.
76th District: (Most of Eaton Co., including Charlotte, Delta Twp, Eaton Rapids & Olivet). Angela Whitwer (D-Delta Twp) Re-elected ’22, 55.8%; Biden ’20, 51%. There’s a Republican primary, but it still looks Likely Democrat on Nov. 5.
Angela is weak and Andy Shaver may pull an upset!
Angela is weak. Andy may pull an upset!
Angela Witwer actually has a rap song dedicated to her. She became a celebrity after the controversy arose in which a public relations firm was on the lease registration of a Cadillac she regularly drove around Lansing.
Check YouTube for the rapper’s song.
wrt (A and E): hmmm, Hamas was elected by Gaza, founded by the Muslim Brotherhood, with documented ties to Nazi Germany. I’d call them antisemitic except, 1) Patriarchal spiritual father Ishmail was descended from Shem as well?!? Never figured that one out . . . , and, 2) well, after calling them Nazi influenced, it would be redundant, yes? But they ARE totally open about genociding Jews (and Christians). So, millions to neutralize Nazi’s actually sounds like a bargain to me . . . less expensive than WWIII, which is where we are heading if we keep playing around with this subject.
wrt (B): Ever notice how crime rates plummet when crimes are ignored, not registered and otherwise not investigated/prosecuted? But the population lives in fear . . . hmmm, wonder why . . . I think the term is, lawlessness.
wrt (G): Hmmm, so Hillary Clinton was nothing more than wife of Rhodes scholar, Bill Clinton? THE Rhodes scholarship, set up by the Cecil Rhodes foundation, to train good card carrying Socialist/Communists? The foundation influenced by the British labor party founding Fabian Society? Which requires a term in the best socialist example, usually Russia, to write a thesis? Stories of Bill protesting the Vietnam War in Russia are legit.
The Progressives are in the process of thoroughly revising the political ideology and the” even greater” far left of Mr. Biden , public service, record of V.P. Harris. Leftist President Biden campaigned as a unifying centrist in 2020 .Along With the overwhelming support of the mainstream Media, Silicon Valley Tech Giants , “Open Border Advocates such as Geo Soros and other radical advocates of transformation of the Constitution ,,He succeeded. Upon election Mr. Biden gave His loyalty to the IOC Progressive Ideologues who seized control of the Democratic Party. This appears to also be the strategy of the Harris campaign . The middle Class and Poor are enduring the consequences 2020 . With no Moderate at the helm ,will the 2024 Administration be a repeat ?
Harris is a Marxist tyrant wannabe. Her election would be four more years of Obama. She hates the Constitution and specifically, the Bill of Rights. Her nickname in local San Francisco politics was “Heels-up Harris”. She wrecked Willy Brown’s home. What a fine wench!
Bill’s article really focused on Michigan State House seats not the federal election.
Yep.
The New Deal Democratic coalition founded by FDR is finished, it does not exist anymore.
After the 2022 elections, America First Republicans will control government at federal, state and local levels.
The mandate presidencies of Eisenhower and Reagan failed to prove a political watershed and saw defeats in 1960 and 1992 for the GOP. Nixon and Bush were portrayed as bumblers by Democrats and handed over the reins of power to Democrats.
I questioned grassroots Republicans in 2016 why they supported Trump and they replied that he was a successful businessman, an outsider politically, and a protector of American jobs. He unflinchingly criticized other Republican candidates.
Currently, Trump’s resurgence in the polls has coincided with three major legal victories: (A) the Georgia Court of Appeals agreeing to hear a disqualification challenge of Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis (B) the U.S. Supreme Court decision expanding presidential immunity defenses key to winning all pending cases, and (C) Judge Aileen Cannon dismissing the Florida case that had been regarded as the strongest legally against Trump.
Frankly, one remembers Jimmy Hoffa in the late 1950s hiring Edward Bennett Williams as defense counsel and disqualifying whites via peremptory challenges off a jury considering bribery charges against Hoffa in Washington DC. – in 1981 John Hinckley’s family hired Williams’ firm to perform the same defense against the government and got the defendant acquitted of attempted murder. Trump’s misfortune has been being charged in several venues which have been overwhelmingly liberal Democratic in political orientation.
Trump lost in a jury venue in Manhattan that was heavily Democratic and shall face another anti-Republican jury venue in Washington before Judge Tanya Chutkan. Trump’s legal team has embarrassed both Fani Willis and independent counsel John Smith – BUT BEFORE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN COURTS.
It will take months to sort out how the U.S. Supreme Court immunity ruling will impact the specific items of evidence in these cases pending against Trump. His winning of the 2024 election likely means that the criminal cases against Trump will be failures. To the extent his legal team piles up victories in court between now and Election Day on November 5th will feed public opinion casting Trump as the victim of a political witch-hunt who has skillfully defeated the Democrats engineering his demise.
Chief Justice John Robert’s opinion was devastating at several levels to the prosecution and largely unexpected by them or Democrats in general. The fact that the Fulton County District Attorney and independent counsel Smith have indirectly communicated with the White House has received criticism and allegations of bias. In other words the prosecutors are losing in both court proceedings and in the court of public opinion.
Absent Trump being jailed before Election Day, he will likely be re-elected since he will be perceived as an outsider who has skillfully defeated the government of Democratic buffoons.
10x25mm says
(Edit)There doesn’t seem to be much political activity in Little Arabia, beyond the Alabas Farhat – Ziad Abdulmalik race in the 3rd State Representative district.
All the federal and statewide race signs are down, even Hill Harper’s. Even UAW 600 pulled their political signs. No one at my favorite bakery seemed even remotely interested in.talking politics. They were much more interested in the Olympics.
Yes! Kamala Harris CAN help Democrats keep control of the Michigan House of Representatives.
Here’s how:
1) The MI GOP has not been able effective in countering the common democratic themes they use each and every election.
1.1) In spite of embracing the moral high ground of life at conception and denouncing the disgusting practice of 2nd and 3rd trimester abortions, they insist on playing dem-lite, refusing to acknowledge this will require some competing perspectives on the absolute reproductive right of mothers (I am not advocating criminal penalties for either mothers or doctors, although civil penalties and lack of government funding seems more appropriate in certain late cases).
1.2) While Michigan is more school choice than many other states, they have light years to go to establish true equality of education. Where is the MI GOP? In spite of having ex-Ed Secretary, Betsy DeVos, resident in our state they can’t articulate a winning argument.
1.3) MI, thanks to its robust history of socialist influenced unions inherently leans decidedly left. I don’t begrudge them this, the car industry was and still is profoundly predatory. Repealing right-to-work was devastating to the people. Only profound education will cure us of this bias. Education not to be forthcoming from the MI GOP apparently.
1.4) For some reason I haven’t quite figured out, the MI GOP is profoundly inundated with never-Trumpers. Much more than most other states. I suspect this is due to the personal egos of the current GOP influencers (e.g., DeVos, Meijer, Amash, etc), but it is only my opinion. Trump brought Betsy into his cabinet and Hoekstra appears to have at least a working relationship with the Donald. This rift needs to close solidly.
1.5) As long as VP Harris and Gov Whitmer are allowed to successfully thread the disgusting needle of Israel/Hamas moral equivalency, they will be able to enjoy the debate high ground and be able to actually keep both Jews and Muslims in the fold. Where is the push back from the MI GOP?
2) The successful lawfare campaign waged by the current MI administration. The MI GOP will be on the defensive for the foreseeable future.
3) Except for a very few news outlets and podcasts, TBR being one of the best examples, MI MSM refuses to present dissenting opinions in their proper perspective.
4) Thanks to VP Harris’ rich elite donors, up to and including George Soros, her war chest of +$300 M has plenty to spread around to her acolytes. Far exceeding anything their MI Republican rivals will ever muster.
5) In spite of, “her image . . . [as] a West Coast liberal, to the left of Biden”, i.e., communist, she does not have much to fear from this reality because the MI GOP and MI MSM, true to form, is reticent to call her out. As long as the MI DNC brings their knife to the fight in the phone booth, and the MI GOP brings their copy of the, Marquess of Queensberry Rules, VP Harris will provide nearly all down-ballot races about a 5 – 10 point advantage.
So, my prediction is that VP Harris sweeps the state going away. Bringing with her, CIA Slotkin, and keeping majorities in both houses. The MI GOP has several years to reform but that may not be possible after this election.
From UAWNEWS today:
“On Wednesday, July 31, the UAW International Executive Board voted to endorse Kamala Harris for President of the United States. Her historic candidacy builds on the Biden-Harris administration’s proven track record of standing with the UAW and delivering major gains for the working class….”
Kamala is not only a far left progressive, she is a train wreck! She has no policies! She has made it evident that the only priorities for America only include Drag Queens, or amnesty for ALL illegals! Her love fest with Hollywood, and her television media appearances, at the very best, only reveal that her time would be much better served as a daytime talk show host. Certainly not qualified to LEAD the Free World! Believe it or not, the American people are tired of having their intelligence insulted by the Democrat Party. The Democrat Party may have been able to fool some of the people in the past, but they can’t fool our pocketbooks, or our moral compass! John Kerry wasn’t able to fool the people with HIS flip-flops, and her flip-flops are on steroids in comparison. I truly hope that the Democrat Party stay the course with Kamala, it’s a sure win for the Republicans.
Jim Carville, veteran Democratic Party strategist agrees with your perception There is plenty of left-wing positions which will serve to alienate her from mainstream American voters.
If the Democrats had nominated someone like Gretchen Whitmer or Pete Buttigieg, they would have a far better chance at winning on November 5th.
Kamala Harris is the most left political nominee Democrats have had for president since George McGovern in 2022.
You meant 1972 obviously as the year George McGovern ran for president.
Alas it dos not seem that long ago, I do agree.