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Can a ‘moderate’ Republican win anymore? (Politico weeps)
Politico ^ | 9/11/23 | MADISON FERNANDEZ

Posted on 09/11/2023 1:50:00 PM PDT by cotton1706

An end-of-summer, off-year special election primary for a safe Republican seat in ruby red Utah was perhaps not on the top of political observers’ list of races to watch this year. But the runner-up in the GOP primary for UT-02 thinks it should be.

Becky Edwards, who claimed the moderate Republican lane in the GOP primary for soon-to-be-vacant UT-02 to succeed Republican Rep. Chris Stewart, finished with around one-third of the vote last week, just about 5,000 votes shy of eventual winner Celeste Maloy, a former aide to Stewart and now member-in-waiting. In an interview with Score, Edwards argued that her performance was actually a boon for the near-extinct lane of the GOP — showing that they still remained a part of the coalition that can’t be ignored.

“Voters want overwhelmingly — even in a red state — they want more commonsense, civil, respectful and productive conversations and actions on their behalf,” she told Score following her loss. “I think anyone running in the 2024 cycle has to pay attention to this.”

This was Edwards’ second time running for Congress, after a strong but unsuccessful primary challenge to Sen. Mike Lee, an ally of former President Donald Trump, last year. Edwards leaned heavily into her stance as a moderate Republican, but faced attacks for being a critic of Trump and voting for President Joe Biden in 2020. Her loss last week shows the limits for a coalition that might make up roughly a third of the GOP.

“I think there is a path,” said Taylor Morgan, a Utah strategist that has worked with both Republican and Democratic campaigns, of moderate Republicans in Utah. “I think Becky’s fatal flaw was she was not branded as a practical, moderate Republican.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: 2024; demonicrats; elections; gopestablishment; rinos; uniparty
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Pantywaist Republicans rapidly losing their power and influence, at long last.
1 posted on 09/11/2023 1:50:00 PM PDT by cotton1706
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To: cotton1706

The last Whig President was Millard Fillmore.


2 posted on 09/11/2023 1:52:57 PM PDT by rfp1234 (E Porcibus Unum )
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To: cotton1706

When I hear “moderate Republican” I absolutely will not vote for that person. That is like saying “RINO”, and there isn’t much if, and, or but about that.

Those are candidates who will “compromise” with those who mean this country ill.

They may do what they will, but they won’t do it with my vote or blessing.


3 posted on 09/11/2023 1:53:43 PM PDT by rlmorel ("If you think tough men are dangerous, just wait until you see what weak men are capable of." JBP)
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To: cotton1706

And when the democrats purged all their moderate and blue dogs back in the Clinton years, did the press worry about it? Nope, not a single word.


4 posted on 09/11/2023 1:55:34 PM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: cotton1706

No.


5 posted on 09/11/2023 1:56:11 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: cotton1706

“Voters want overwhelmingly — even in a red state — they want more commonsense, civil, respectful and productive conversations and actions on their behalf,”

When they say ‘commonsense’ they mean ‘someone who agrees with us’.


6 posted on 09/11/2023 1:56:40 PM PDT by dljordan
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To: cotton1706
The "extremists" win. The "moderates" lose. True for candidates from either party. The key to a successful acting career in politics is to be smooth-talking, somewhat good-looking, and project total confidence in the speech.

It's pretty simple if you have the right talent and some good script writers.

7 posted on 09/11/2023 1:59:08 PM PDT by flamberge (Politics is show business for ugly people)
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To: dljordan

Voters want pork, lots of it!


8 posted on 09/11/2023 1:59:12 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: cotton1706

Can anyone but a Party designee “win” anymore?


9 posted on 09/11/2023 1:59:27 PM PDT by arthurus (!i covfefe +H+)
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To: flamberge

10 posted on 09/11/2023 2:01:11 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: cotton1706

Moderate Republican -> Future Democrat


11 posted on 09/11/2023 2:01:26 PM PDT by Zathras
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To: Zathras

Moderate Republican -> Liberal Infiltrator


12 posted on 09/11/2023 2:01:44 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: cotton1706

Moderate Republican’s can still win but it depends on the district.

One just has to look at Georgia, or the Southeast in general.

If you’re a Republican candidate in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, Lake Oconnee area, Sea Island/St Simons Island area, your typical ‘moderate Republican’ will have a better chance of winning there.

He/She is a frat boy/sorority girl, member of the Chamber of Commerce, country club type that has zero eff’s to give the folks driving trucks, showing up to repair something at their home, answering a 911 call or fixing the downed power line.

They are the ones that support corrupt politicians like Kemp and his crew, making Georgia one of the best “pro business” states. What folks never talk about and what the “other” Republican’s can’t stand is all the tax breaks and backroom deals that seem to be the foundation of this “pro business” idea, especially when they have no say in the matter.

These moderate Republican’s are the ones that know the folks on the county commissions/city councils/zoning boards and get the heads up when the next big development is coming so they can snatch up some prime real estate, with the help of the guy at the local bank, who knows that he’s going to get paid, as well.

So, yes. As long as all the graft and collusion stays in the ‘moderate Republican group’ the moderate can win.

I think it was in Douglas County, Ga, where a pretty enthusiastic MAGA Republican type ended up as the Chair in the county Republican Party. The rest of the folks resigned stating that they weren’t in the MAGA wing.


13 posted on 09/11/2023 2:02:45 PM PDT by qaz123
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To: cotton1706

Is there such a thing as a moderate democrat?


14 posted on 09/11/2023 2:04:36 PM PDT by dblshot
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To: cotton1706

No moderate Democrat can win. They are all crazy.


15 posted on 09/11/2023 2:04:40 PM PDT by Fledermaus (It's time to get rid of the Three McStooges; Mitch, Kevin and Ronna!)
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To: cotton1706

You mean RINOs? Mitt Romney comes to mind, but only in Utah.


16 posted on 09/11/2023 2:06:15 PM PDT by rdl6989 ( )
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To: cotton1706

a moderate could NEVER win! but they kept LYING to us! saying they were conservatives UNTIL they secured the nomination and then and only then revealed they were actually moderates!


17 posted on 09/11/2023 2:09:13 PM PDT by TexasFreeper2009
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To: cotton1706
… but faced attacks for being a critic of Trump and voting for President Joe Biden in 2020.

Nobody who voted for that retarded jackass has any business calling herself a Republican with a straight face.

18 posted on 09/11/2023 2:10:27 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (“Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.”)
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To: cotton1706

To the title:

I certainly hope not.


19 posted on 09/11/2023 2:12:40 PM PDT by Westbrook (The Democrats are wizards at two things: Finding votes and losing evidence.)
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To: cotton1706
The republican party is death rattling. they are running constant commercials " if trump wins the nomination, biden wins the presidency".

Yje commercials are pathetic to watch. The never trumpers are really gradping at straws.

20 posted on 09/11/2023 2:13:51 PM PDT by Ikeon (i believe in clubs for women and clubs for males. but only when kindness fails)
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