Key Takeaways:
– Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) shares valuable insight on how Democrats can achieve electoral success in the future.
– In post-2016 midterms, the Democratic Party made significant gains, attributing much to rejecting corporate PAC money.
– Key to the 2018 midterm success was electorate’s backlash against Trump’s presidency and rejection by candidates of corporate PAC money.
– AOC argues the impact of rejecting corporate money remains under-discussed due to its deep-rooted influence on American politics.
– Voters favor candidates who resist corruption and stand firm against accepting lobbyist money.
AOC Gives Insight Into Democratic Victory in the 2018 Midterms
Just as Democrats faced defeat in the White House and Congress twice, in 2016 and 2024, they also tasted some significant victories in 2018. These victories came in the first midterm elections following President Donald Trump’s initial win. Prominent member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) of the midterm elected class provides some tips on how Democrats could repeat the success of 2018.
AOC shares that their party triumphed in the 2018 midterms by electing the largest congressional class since the Watergate scandal. Upon the conclusion of the elections, the Democrats had netted a total of 40 seats, a considerable gain. Only two midterm victories surpassed this achievement: the Tea Party-backed 2010 midterms and the 1994 Republican surge under former President Bill Clinton.
The Anti-Trump Backlash and Corporate PAC Money
According to AOC, a critical part of the Democrats’ victory was the backlash to Trump’s presidency. However, it was not the only factor, with another key element being the rejection of corporate PAC money by many successful candidates, despite numerous differences between them.
This rejection was a widely appealing factor to many voters and is often overlooked during analysis and discussion. Despite being in challenging and expensive competitions, these Democrats still managed to reclaim victory over their Republican counterparts, even losing the monetary race.
Pledging to Reject Corporate PAC Money
Several members of the 116th Congress made pledges to refuse corporate PAC money. These include 50 Democrats, 35 of whom were new members. The list was predominantly made up of Democrats, 32 of whom had received little to no money, less than $10,000 each, from business-related PACs during the 2018 election cycle.
The Influence of Corporate Money and Bonafide Candidates
AOC suggests that the importance of successful Democrats rejecting corporate PAC money is seldom discussed due to the overwhelming influence of corporate money on American politics.
Many political figures are often pressured into accepting corporate money and rescinding their no-lobbyist money pledges. AOC shares some examples of politicians who gave in to this pressure and subsequently lost their seats to Republican opponents. She stresses that voters favor individuals who stand against corruption.
The New York lawmaker further adds that counterbalancing this blend of cynicism and dishonesty requires bonafide candidates who possess the courage to confront this corruption. For instance, far-right conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tapped into the widespread public outrage towards the pharmaceutical lobby successfully. AOC concludes that to outperform a right-wing that capitalizes on public anger at Big Pharma, Democrats cannot run candidates who accept donations from Big Pharma.
Strategies like the ones AOC shared would significantly bolster Democratic chances in upcoming elections. Continuing to elect candidates who reject corporate PAC money and resist corruption is a promising path that could help tip the scale in Democrats’ favor.