We’re really living in an “Idiocracy meets clown world” time.
I’m sure if he hasn’t already, DJ will weigh in, but here are some realities about AZCD8:
*the seat was Gabby Giffords’ seat a few years ago. Before that, RINO Jim Kolbe.
*In 2012, in a special election, Barber (D) won by 7 points. Later that year, in the regular November election, Trent Franks kicked his butt.
*Franks was VERY popular, and was not even opposed by a D in 2016.
As you can see, any of these facts make the district far different from a “typical” red district. Franks had a solid fan base there, and Lesko won DESPITE his scandal. This is very important. A party who has a person resign due to scandal almost never wins the subsequent election.
Lesko has already announced she will caucus with the Freedom Caucus-—a VERY big deal.
So understand DemoKKKrat election analysis:
R wins by 30 points = “a close election.”
R wins by 7 points = “The DemoKKKrat really won.”
R loses by 500 votes (as in PA18) = “muh blue wave.”
Bottom line, Rs have carried six out of seven special House elections since Nov. 2016 and lost one by 500 votes.