September 2014

[admin]

In September 2014, major U.S. Democrats were heavily engaged in activities related to the upcoming November midterm elections, with President Barack Obama’s second-term agenda and the Democratic Party’s control of the Senate at stake. Below is a summary of the key political activities involving prominent Democrats during this period, based on available information:
President Barack Obama’s Activities:
Ebola Response and Political Criticism: In the lead-up to the midterm elections, Obama faced intense Republican criticism over the administration’s handling of four Ebola cases diagnosed in the U.S. in late September and early October. Democrats were on the defensive as Republicans used the Ebola scare to galvanize voters, with media coverage amplifying the issue. Studies later indicated this rhetoric aided Republican candidates in the midterms.

Immigration Policy Delay: Obama postponed executive action on immigration, following requests from red-state Democrats who feared that such moves could harm their re-election chances in conservative-leaning states. This decision was strategic to avoid alienating voters in competitive Senate races.

Military Engagements: By November (but relevant to September planning), Obama announced an increase in U.S. troop levels in Iraq to around 3,000 for non-combat roles, reflecting ongoing national security debates that shaped Democratic messaging in September. These debates were part veal to the elections.

Senate and House Campaign Efforts:
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC): The DSCC was actively fundraising and supporting Democratic Senate candidates, transferring $6.9 million to national party committees between January 2013 and September 2014. This financial activity was critical for defending the Democratic Senate majority, which was at risk.

Key Senate Races: Democrats faced challenging races in several states:
Michelle Nunn (Georgia): Nunn, the Democratic nominee for Senate, was campaigning against Republican David Perdue. As the daughter of former Senator Sam Nunn, she was a prominent candidate but faced an uphill battle in a Republican-leaning state.

Brian Schatz (Hawaii): Schatz, appointed to fill the late Senator Daniel Inouye’s seat, won a close Democratic primary against Colleen Hanabusa (48.5% to 47.8%) in August, with campaign activities continuing into September to secure the general election.

Mary Landrieu (Louisiana): A three-term incumbent, Landrieu was in a tight race that eventually led to a December runoff against Republican Bill Cassidy, who defeated her. September was a critical campaign period for her.

House Races: Democrats were defending seats in competitive districts. Notable losses in November included Representatives Ron Barber (AZ), Joe Garcia (FL), John Barrow (GA), Brad Schneider (IL), and Bill Enyart (IL), indicating intense campaign activity in September to hold these seats.

Retirements and Open Seats: Several Democrats, including Bruce Braley (IA), Mike Michaud (ME), Bill Owens (NY), Mike McIntyre (NC), and Jim Matheson (UT), had retired to run for other offices or due to challenging re-elections, leading to Democratic efforts to retain these seats through new candidates like Pete Aguilar (CA) and Gwen Graham (FL).

Legal and Ethical Issues:
Christina Ayala (Connecticut): Democratic State Representative Christina Ayala was arrested in September 2014 on 19 voting fraud charges, including eight counts of fraudulent voting and tampering with evidence. This scandal drew attention to Democratic vulnerabilities in local politics.

Roderick Wright (California): Democratic State Senator Roderick Wright resigned in September 2014 after being convicted of perjury and voter fraud, serving a 90-day sentence. His resignation was a blow to Democrats in California, requiring damage control.

Party Dynamics and Voter Engagement:
Declining Voter Registration: A 2011 USA Today review noted a decline in registered Democrats in 25 of 28 states from 2008 to 2011, with a further drop of 800,000 by 2011. This trend continued to challenge Democrats in 2014, prompting efforts to boost turnout, especially with a low expected voter turnout of 36.4%.

Polarization and Messaging: Democrats were grappling with increasing political polarization, with 94% of Democrats ideologically to the left of the median Republican, per Pew Research. The party focused on issues like the minimum wage and defending the Affordable Care Act against Republican repeal efforts.

Voter Awareness: Only 53% of Democratic voters were aware that their party controlled the Senate, compared to 68% of Republicans, indicating a challenge in mobilizing and informing their base.

Notable Figures and Endorsements:
Hillary Clinton: Although focused on her 2016 presidential run, Clinton was actively endorsing Democratic candidates in September 2014, leveraging her influence to support Senate and House hopefuls.

Joe Biden: As Vice President, Biden was involved in fundraising and campaign events to bolster Democratic candidates, particularly in battleground states.

The Democrats faced a tough political landscape in September 2014, with the midterm elections described as a “red wave” due to Republican gains. The party’s efforts were centered on maintaining Senate control, defending House seats, and countering negative narratives around Obama’s leadership, particularly on Ebola and immigration. However, the Republicans’ focus on these issues, combined with low voter turnout and Democratic retirements, led to significant losses in November.