The only name that comes to mind.

n/t.

If only it had happened.

Whether it is president, senate or house member.

n/t.

conservative one to stand a real chance.

This has been a problem of the modern Democratic party. Not aggressively going after EVERY seat, even in deep red territory. The Republicans make plays for every seats everywhere and we should too.

And even a poor candidate will cause the Republicans to have to defend, spending money and time where they don't want to. And who can say? In a low-turnout, off-year, seat-filling election, maybe our candidate slips through.

That is why I find that it's absolutely essential that we understand there will be a more conservative wing of the party. It worries me when we go after a Senator for a single vote and threaten to "primary" that person. We'll never pick up seats in places like Alabama or West Virginia if we don't recognize it. And I'm not talking about a "Third Way" ideology. I'm talking about a party that accepts different ideologies (but of course having some core shared values). It matters when it comes to things like the judiciary, for example, that we have a majority. A robust party would include a liberal wing, a moderate faction, and a more conservative wing. We'll never have a majority in the Senate or House again if we don't accept this. I, myself, tend to think that I'm in the liberal wing, but I'm a pragmatist, too. I think balancing ideology and pragmatism is a good mix.

On the Democratic side, state Sen. Vivian Figures was the last to launch a bid against Sessions in 2008, when she earned nearly 40 percent of the vote. As state senator, Figures has had limited need for fundraising, drawing doubts that she could credibly run an effective campaign in the special election season. Although that deficit could change if the election is a special election held in 2017, since it would draw national attention from the Democratic Party looking to whittle down Republican numbers in the Senate.

Whoever Repubs run will have to spend a lot of money and time getting their name recognition up. She could make it extremely close if not win the seat with some more funding behind her campaign.

But it might be a step towards regaining control in 2018

feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, all that other stuff many christians deny

...such candidates or we can just embrace permanent minority status.

A Dem who spends most of her or his time blocking what the vast majority of the party wants and insisting that the rest be watered-down to nothing is of little use to us.

Best to actually try rebuilding red state Dem parties from the bottom up, as people's parties of the many against the few.

must be the ones to win in Red States. We may not get my ideal, a Sanders type there. But we're already conceding ground and going against the Party's roots if we don't fight for populism, equality, the environment, and individual rights. Some have talked about holding their own in Red States because people respect them. I am not saying shut out views different than mine, but conceding ideas has led to our Party getting too conservative for me.

exactly one statewide elected Democrat in the deep south, and that's Gov John bel Edwards in Louisiana. He is about as conservative as you can get -- pro gun, anti choice, etc.

He also expanded Medicaid and insured an extra 400,000 residents, so I'll take what I can get.

BTW, prior to him the only elected D in Louisiana was Mary Landreau, not liked around here, but a damn site better than her replacement (Vitter).

The Republican alternative. But, I feel the Red State Dems going TOO conservative helped result in their fates.

This is the trap we always fall into. We start deciding which races are worth it and we end up losing more seats every election.

both parties will be looking to the race as a way of taking the national temperature. If the republicans run a teabagger and they win by a landslide, they will use that as further proof of their mandate.

If the Dems lose but only by a slim margin in a seat that last year would have been a "safe" seat, it sends a message to republicans in more marginal seats to tread carefully.

Don't concede one fucking inch...if we don't fight to overthrow the orange asshole and his band of dipshits with everything we've got then we deserve what they do to the country.

And the candidate should run as someone who wants to bring checks and balances back to Washington to try to prevent Trump from continuing on the executive order path of destruction.

One of my friends who is retired decided he had to run for state senate here in virginia instead of letting the gop candidate run unnopposed. Our local "strongerUS" group is helping him get signatures, money and meetings with local community leaders. Even for an office like that you need 30k or so to be competitive...
I am very likely going to run for the board of supervisors in my county as soon as a seat opens ( next year) because we cant let the gop win by default. I may not win but its high time we start shaking up theses people. They need to be made to defend their positions and answer to their citizens. They have to be made uncomfortable and forced to be on the record for their support of Trump and his destructive behavior.

Now is the time for people to challenge the GOP everywhere because the majority of people are not impressed with Trump or the GOP...but they have not felt strongly enough to vote before. I think more do now and that may be the key to overthrowing these asswipes.

Which is why you need to recruit young retired tech zillionaires to move to these states, spread the wealth, and run for office down the line.

As in 1954.

No Democrat will win statewide there for another century.

They are going to be motivated to get their asses out and vote.

All the white people vote Republican down there, because they see Democrats as the party of black people.

There are red districts and states where we can compete. Alabama is not one of them.

I live in an extremely red county and I only know ONE person who actually likes Trump and she has been very quiet since he took office. I'm sure she doesn't like what he's doing at all. Many people just don't bother vote because they don't have any different choices...so GIVE THEM OPTIONS!

And no less.

Luther Strange got it. They won't wast a day not having that vote.

The governor indeed appoints a replacement until elections can be held. Its not permanent.

This only leaves a year to find a reliable candidate, raise the money, etc.. we can only guess how much more damage Trump will have done by then. This could make it competitive given that the last dem to try it got nearly 40 % with no name recognition and scant campaign funds.

Which is when the term would've been up. So we get an early shot at it

Which would choose who serves the final two years of Sessions' term. Then whoever wins would presumably run for reelection in 2020 for the next six-year term.

The memes will write themselves.

Super size all caps With his surname really sma)l underneath , lol. LUTHER....(strange)

(Yes.)

so sort of depends on who wants to be the sacrificial lamb and how much money we have.

much like had HRC tapped Gillibrand for her cabinet (entirely possible), the GOP would not win that seat.

but we should run someone good just to articulate our message loudly.

so yeah i guess, we should run someone knowing they wouldn't win and would lose money.

deceptive means, like running as a RINO who is actually a Democratic progressive.
We need to use everything in the book. RESIST AND PERSIST
11

so this person will be a sacrificial lamb, it would almost be better if they were loud and progressive so that this would just serve as an opportunity to get our ideas out there.

i reserved the right to change my mind about this depending on DJT's unpopularity in 2018. if its high we run a blue dog who can maybe win (although, i still doubt it)

not just the dems

isn't the gov under indictment, and the person who would have prosecuted him now the Senator

it seems like much than the Dem party is broken in AL

Luther Strange actually requested that the governor give him the seat...the governor he is sipposed to be investigating as the state AG...now the newly appointed AG (appointed, again, by the governor) will be responsible for the investigation of the man who just appointed him... That sounds like ripe ground for us to make some headway. Start pounding on them now! Anybody on here in Alabama?

Californian. But we managed to neuter the Republican Party in this state by trying to take over solid Republican Seats in the state and federal legislatures. We've had better luck with the state seats but only slightly.

I think Howard Dean's 50 State plan is the way to go from here on out.

Democrats nominating and outstanding candidate.

So what are the options? Save the money for campaigning in New York?

IMO, Alabama is a great place to start. EVERY state is a good place to start. Whoever the DNC chair will be should have a few cups of coffee with Howard Dean.

Even if the Democratic candidate for governor does not win, he/she will bring people out to vote and the Democrats could pick up some house seats and win other down ticket races.

take them ALL.

Maybe we don't get that seat, but someone will hear our message.

Convenient, isn't it? Almost like the fix was in from the beginning.

With the right candidate with the right message.

If it is the only election going, the DSCC might invest in Alabama.

Phone (202) 224-2447
info@dscc.org

was Richard Shelby.

Couple days later - he switched parties and has been a Republican senator for near 30 years!

There are no statewide office-holding Democrats in Alabama today. Period.

The only Democrat we have in Washington DC is US Rep. Terri Sewell and the district she represents has been created by the Voting Rights Act and now gerrymandered to guarantee at least one single black representative from Alabama - and that is exactly what we have.

No - there is no senate seat we will be taking any time soon.