#NorthCarolina, March 3: Why not me?
The Democratic wave of 2018 was led by novice candidates with appealing outsider biographies,
many of whom flipped long-held Republican districts.
The mountains and foothills of western North Carolina,
home to the state’s 11th Congressional District,
are a good place to see the beginning of this trend at work in 2026.
Though the district includes the picturesque
— and politically blue
— city of Asheville,
no Democrat has represented it for more than a decade.
Republican Chuck Edwards has held the district since 2023, and Trump carried it by 10 points in 2024.
Jamie #Ager, a fourth-generation farmer who has never run for office, is hoping to change that.
“I looked around and saw that 2026 is sort of this moment in history when we need good leadership in this country,” said Ager,
one of five Democrats running to oust Edwards.
“And I am in a uniquely interesting place to go win.”
Ager has so far raised the most money among the Democrats.
But he is not alone in the race.
Richard #Hudspeth, a family physician in a small town south of Asheville, is another first-time candidate.
He is looking to take on the Republican-led Congress’s cutting of rural health care.
Will 2024 be a repeat of 2018 for Democrats?
It starts with finding the right candidates to meet the moment
— and fit the district.
#Illinois, March 17: The money vs. the machine
When octogenarian Dick Durbin,
an Illinois senator for nearly three decades, announced last year he would not be seeking another term,
he opened up a safe Democratic seat
— and a torrent of pent-up political ambition.
No fewer than 10 people are running in the primary.
A trio are considered the strongest contenders:
Rep. Raja #Krishnamoorthi,
Lt. Gov. Juliana #Stratton
and Rep. Robin #Kelly.
Like Democrats across the country, the three are tailoring their messages to voters’ concerns
about rising costs and affordability.
Where they differ are in the allies and assets they are bringing to the battle.
Stratton
— whom Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has endorsed,
throwing his formidable political machinery behind her
— is campaigning on her experience, positioning herself as the most effective counter to Trump
and vowing to fight for a raft of progressive policies,
including Medicare-for-all.
Krishnamoorthi, who has a massive financial advantage
and is the most moderate among the leaders in the race,
is campaigning on issues like free school lunches
and a tax credit for new homeowners.
Kelly has channeled populist passions by proposing a minimum tax on those whose net worth exceeds $100 million.
Are voters in this reliably blue state looking for pragmatic and centrist candidates who can reposition their party,
do they want to stoke their base with progressive ideas,
or are they looking for a champion to take the fight to Trump?
The Illinois primary could offer a barometer of where Democrats across the country will come down on these questions as they seek a path back to power in Washington.
