Primary Results Prove Battle for the Soul of Democratic Party is on, according to Prof. Grant Reeher

Wednesday, June 27, 2018, By Keith Kobland

Maxwell School Professor of Political Science Grant Reeher says victories by progressive challengers in Tuesday’s political primaries will have long lasting impact.

“New York’s primary results–in particular Joe Crowley’s stunning defeat at the hands of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Dana Balter’s decisive victory over Juanita Perez-Williams–demonstrate that the battle for the soul of the Democratic Party is on,” says Reeher, who is also director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute. “Until now, progressive challenges to the party establishment had generated enthusiasm, but not ultimate victory. These results have obvious implications for the New York state-level primaries in September, and even the presidential primaries in 2020.”

As for the Republican side, Reeher says “support for President Trump continues to be an apparent plus, though these results were not as striking as what happened on the other side of the aisle.”