ANALYSIS — When it comes to losing candidates, not all retreads are created equal.
Last week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released its initial “Red to Blue” list of contenders in seats the party is looking to flip, including a crop of House candidates who lost in 2022. Republicans pounced, comparing the Democrats to “week-old crusty lasagna.” It’s a great line, but a loss does not necessarily mean a candidate was weak, nor does it preclude a candidate from winning in the future.
Republicans should know this, considering Iowa Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks lost congressional races in 2008, 2010 and 2014 before winning in 2020. Michigan Republican John James lost two U.S. Senate races before getting elected to the House in 2022. California Republican David Valadao lost reelection in 2018 and came back to win two years later.
