As Democrats elsewhere squabble among themselves, Kansas voters just want to win

Indeed, an out-and-proud communist candidate in Lawrence lost his bid to unseat incumbent Democratic state Rep. Susan Wikle. She won 78%-22%. Sarah Preu challenged incumbent U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids over taking money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and funding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement but was crushed in that primary, winning only 17% of the vote.

Democrats elsewhere might be consumed with anger at the party establishment and want to fight back at all costs.

Here in Kansas, they just want a shot at winning elections.

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Putting the judicial selection amendment aside, the two biggest races Tuesday were for governor and U.S. Senate respectively. In each case, Kansas Democrats prioritized electability. (I’ll pause for a moment here while Gov. Laura Kelly’s staff calms down.)

State Sen. Cindy Holscher prevailed over fellow state Sen. Ethan Corson not because of any great difference in political experience or ideology. Indeed, painting her as anything like the Democratic Socialists of America-affiliated candidates romping elsewhere in the country is laughably absurd. She’s a moderate Johnson County Democrat, just like Corson — and just like the third Democrat in the race, Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog.

Yes, Senate President and GOP gubernatorial candidate Ty Masterson calls her extreme. He would have done the same to Corson or Skoog.

No, it came down to juice. I wrote about this about this in June, and Holscher simply ran a better race than Corson. I know both lawmakers from my time at the Statehouse, and both seem dedicated to their constituents. But Holscher branded herself as populist fighter, and that stance has broad appeal to Kansas Democrats, who have been dramatically outnumbered since the state began.

Over on the Senate side, you could witness more ruthless pragmatism. Adam Hamilton, the Methodist megachurch pastor, won the primary over 10 other Democrats. Many were exceptionally well qualified, and personable. One of them, Christy Davis, even wrote a couple of columns for Kansas Reflector before entering the political fray.

Hamilton proved himself a prodigious fundraiser and polished public presence. Given the bevy of opportunities that Democrats are pursuing across the nation this year, it seems unlikely that a Kansas Senate contest will warrant a lot of official party funds. That means financing falls to the candidate and associated groups.

Democrats picked him, based on all of the above. Subsequent race appraisals by professional prognosticators suggest that the party has put itself in a stronger position.

As has so often been the case in past decades, Kansas has set an example for the nation in this primary.

Popular, competent candidates who speak to genuine concerns of voters matter. Nothing else.

Forget the disputes between socialists and liberals and centrists. Forget the clawing for power between Democrats who once held power and those who want to hold power in the future.

This narrative entrances national political writers and opinion columnists. They will write hundreds of thousands of words on the subject, and because our great nation sees thousands of elections every year, they will find support for whatever take they plan to share. Or, like departing New York Times conservative columnist Ross Douthat, they will fling their arms in the air in confused exasperation.

He haughtily proclaims: “I find that I’ve lost my sense of which contemporary worldview is most in need of criticism or opposition, where the good guys and bad guys are. Each major faction seems potentially dangerous, tempted toward the dark side in some unique way, contested or cross-pressured to a degree that makes me uncertain where the side of the angels really lies.”

On the ground, at the state level, I can’t imagine anyone having such a challenge. Neither Democrats nor Republicans in Kansas seem critically “dangerous” to me right now. Not more or less than they ever were, at least. Each party has members with good ideas and bad ones, which can be implemented in good or bad ways.

And if you think that any side of politics gives safe haven to angels, try covering a campaign.

National Democrats will soon face a choice. Donald Trump will inevitably depart, and they will have to engage with a new coalition of supporters with a new generation of leaders. Those leaders may be leftists or liberals or centrists. Perhaps they will even be ever so slightly right of center. But to win popular votes in general elections, they must be sensible, levelheaded and willing to avoid the temptation of saying ludicrous things they will have to walk back in five to 10 years.

That doesn’t mean they have to be boring or cookie cutter. It does mean accepting the United States is a diverse country, both in population and beliefs. It does mean accepting the value of persuasion, rather than calling out or preaching. 

It ultimately accepting that the most direct way to achieve political change — left, right and center — is to win elections.

Kansas Democrats have shown that they value people who can do so. Will other Democrats notice?

Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. His first book, “Opinionated: Kansas Journalists Who Proved Why Commentary Matters — Then and Now,” comes out Sept. 29 from the University Press of Kansas. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.