Democrat Conor Lamb beat a Trump-backed incumbent in a Pennsylvania special election. Photo: Drew Angerer / Getty Images
"A new Democratic Party is emerging in congressional primaries across the country, united over the most liberal policies in decades but sharply divided over which candidates to run against President Trump and Republicans in the midterms," the WashPost reports on A1 ("In 2018 races, ‘D’ is for divided").
The big picture: "The party taking shape will challenge the GOP with a distinct populist tilt, marking a departure from the centrist views that had dominated during the era of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama."
- The issues: "This year’s candidates have largely endorsed universal health care, a $15 minimum wage, easing the financial burden for college students and tougher gun control."
- The conflict: "[T]here is sharp disagreement as more than 1,100 candidates have filed, with disputes over tactics — how to criticize Trump or how best to talk about issues — and sparring over who should be the standard-bearers, either first-time hopefuls or experienced politicians."
P.S. N.Y. Times' Trip Gabriel says Pennsylvania is the one state to watch in midterms:
- "Two developments are converging to give Pennsylvania its outsize role: New congressional districts drawn by the State Supreme Court make the map more of an equal playing field; and a special-election upset by a Democrat in one of the reddest parts of the state signaled an incipient blue wave."