The Blue Dogs

[mtbc]

These days I don't seem to hear much about the Blue Dog Coalition. It is plausible that the Democrats will regain the Senate on Hillary's coattails. I'd expect it likely that Hillary would then make many important judicial appointments over the next couple of years but one thing not much mentioned is that I don't think she would exactly have carte blanche: despite straight-ticket voters a few of the new senators would probably be carefully looking ahead for retaining their seats next time around when Trump isn't the alternative.

(I wonder if judicial appointments are much help in reducing the House's gerrymandering in the 2020 redistricting.)

Comments

[mindstalk]

AIUI the old Blue Dogs mostly got swept out in 2010 and after. ACA backlash.

But yes, if the Democrats take back Congress it'd seem likely with the help of more conservative areas. (I say with zero expertise.)

Question will be whether a Democratic Senate keeps the filibuster or trashes it. Though if they get just 50 seats (plus the VP) even that would still leave them needing every vote, just as they needed all of 60 votes in 2009-10. OTOH, having only 50 seats means those would probably be more liberal ones.

> (I wonder if judicial appointments are much help in reducing the House's gerrymandering in the 2020 redistricting.)

Quite possibly! Not to mention protecting voting rights in general.