NM Senate- Progressive challengers defeat five conservative Democrats

[VPH]

Looking at legislator's ACU ratings - it seems, that the word "conservative" must be used here in strictly relative sense (as all 5 have 20-30 ratings by ACU standards). Real conservatives in the past usually had 80+ from ACU... At least - 70. Former Democratic congressman from New Mexico Harold Runnels, for example, had lifetime ACU rating 79 (a couple percentages higher, then his Republican counterpart, btw..)

yeah, this is a disappointing sign of the Democrats' continued leftward lurch excluding moderates, not some toppling of conservative scions

[VPH]

Looking at legislator's ACU ratings - it seems, that the word "conservative" must be used here in strictly relative sense (as all 5 have 20-30 ratings by ACU standards). Real conservatives in the past usually had 80+ from ACU... At least - 70. Former Democratic congressman from New Mexico Harold Runnels, for example, had lifetime ACU rating 79 (a couple percentages higher, then his Republican counterpart, btw..)

yeah, this is a disappointing sign of the Democrats' continued leftward lurch excluding moderates, not some toppling of conservative scions

If the progressives had a better message that resonated enough with the people to win, what exactly is the issue here? Progressive Democrats aren’t allowed to fight for our vision inside the party? Honestly people like you might as well just advocate for abolishing the primary system all together and going back to smoke filled back rooms / conventions.

Well, to be honest - the smoke-filled rooms leaders frequently were much more adept in nominating candidates, who suited their districts extremely well, then present day "idiotic activst's dominated" system, where Democrats stubbornly nominate "bold progressives" even in conservative seats, and Republicans nominate right-wingers in liberal ones.....

Even if you think that’s true, and I have my doubts as to that ‘conventional wisdom’, it isn’t worth sacrificing the transparency and engagement of the primary process in my opinion, which is actually one of the few facets of America’s electoral system I favor over other systems. If you want to go back to back room deal making go ahead and advocate for it at the convention, I like our open primary process, even when it doesn’t benefit my side (though yes, openness and transparency being inherent progressive values, it usually does benefit progressives).

My lamentation of how the election turned out doesn't mean that I support abolishing democracy. That's an absurd allegation to lob. I just think it sucks that conservative Democrats are getting squeezed out. We can disagree on that without suggesting that the other wants the old machine back.