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Its possible, as some have argued, that the solution is to take on the partys left flank on social issues. This is something of a red herring, however: From Defund the Police to critical race theory, Republicans are ginning up pseudo-scandals that have little to do with the Democratic Partys actual positions or anything that the partys leaders have called for; other areas, like trans athletics, are tempests in a teapotissues that only affect a vanishingly small number of people. This is not to diminish the impact of these issues on the lives of ordinary people, but its not clear that overreacting to inflated GOP talking points by shifting to the right will help Democrats more than fighting back against those same talking pointsnot that Democrats are really doing that, either.

But the other problem is that many of the ideas that people like Gottheimer promote simply arent that popular. Gottheimer is no populist firebrand; his commitment to the repeal of the SALT cap gives away the game. While Democrats desperately need to find a way to reach out to noncollege voters, none of these representatives have found the magic touch to do so. Their donor base isnt interested in raising the fortunes of the middle and working class, and it shows: These moderates are silent on (or have actively worked against) issues like allowing Medicare to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies on drug prices or the extension of the child tax creditan actual tax cut that is extremely popular.

The cupboard is bare in terms of a moderate theory of governance as well. The thing about moderates today is I dont think they have a worldview, political scientist Ruy Teixeira told Zengerle. Theyre just reacting to what [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] and the Democratic left are doing. But whats their alternative? I dont think they have an alternative. Dont do dumb stuff is not a worldview.

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The Problem With Moderate Democrats Is Not That Theyre Vanishing. Its That They Have No Ideas. - The New Republic

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday that Democrats criticizing the Biden administration's strategy to ensure abortion rights ought to "give us some good ideas."

Driving the news: In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, some progressives have called for the Biden administration to build abortion facilities on federal lands located in red states a move the administration has made clear it is not pursuing.

The big picture: "I also would ask them to please pass a law. They have it in their power, if they can find the votes to actually codify the Roe decision, which is what we need more than anything else," Becerra added when asked by host Chuck Todd about Democrats who believe the administration is "not fighting hard enough" for abortion rights.

What they're saying: "We will find what we can and do as much as we can. But when you are stripped of a right, as the Supreme Court has just done to every woman of childbearing age, it is tough to overcome," he said.

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Democrats need to give "some good ideas" on ensuring abortion rights: Becerra - Axios

Democrats and aligned groups have fundraised more than $80 million one week after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, an impressive fundraising haul that comes just ahead of the November midterms, The Associated Press reported.

Digital fundraising platform ActBlue recorded those numbers, which found that within the first 24 hours of the Supreme Courts decision being announced, $20 million had been raised, the news outlet noted.

Last week, the high court eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion, a decision that was celebrated by conservatives and blasted by Democrats.

The ruling has led a patchwork of states to begin rolling back access to abortion, resulting in girls, women and other patients having to cross state lines to receive the medical procedure.

The decision was anticipated by some after a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion in May indicated the high court was set to overturn Roe, which fueled Democratic fundraising shortly thereafter.

Donors gave $12 million through ActBlue from the time of the SCOTUS leak thru midnight yesterday, giving to groups that are organizing right nowabortion funds, reproductive justice groups both big and small, & candidates who will fight GOP efforts to restrict abortion access, ActBlue tweeted on May 4.

The latest fundraising haul indicates that the issue can excite Democrats base, but it is not clear how that will translate by November. Democrats are already bracing for losses given President Bidens low approval ratings, high inflation and the historical precedent that the presidents party generally suffers losses in the midterms.

The Hill has reached out to ActBlue for comment.

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Democrats campaign off Roe overturn, raise more than $80M - The Hill

So did Kevin Smith, the Londonderry town manager and former director of a conservative advocacy organization, who has repeatedly attacked Hassan for opposing the 24-week abortion ban in the state.

Several of the Republicans running against Kuster and Pappas have expressed similar views on the Supreme Courts decision or stayed silent in the wake of its ruling a sign of the complicated politics. Instead, New Hampshire Republicans have quickly returned to hammering their Democratic rivals over inflation and rising fuel prices.

Weve got commonsense laws here regarding abortion and thats not the focus going forward, New Hampshire GOP Chair Steve Stepanek said in an interview. The focus is, how do we get this Biden inflation under control? And I think most people are concerned about their future, concerned about putting food on the table.

Democrats contend that reproductive rights are fueling voters uncertainties just as much as the economy and in an interview, Kuster connected the two.

Its fine by me if [Republicans] miss the moment and misunderstand whats happening, Kuster said. Of course people are concerned about lowering costs. But those very people know that they probably cant afford another child if they have two or three children. And they want to control their future, their autonomy. They want to continue their schooling. They want to stay in the workplace. They dont want the government mandating a pregnancy that they do not intend.

Support for abortion rights is on the rise in New Hampshire and at an all-time high among voters nationally. Yet some of those same polls, and many others, show the economy is still top of mind for voters, with gas prices recently topping $5 a gallon on average in New England and the prices of food and other goods rising along with it.

Those concerns, coupled with President Joe Bidens approval numbers and U.S. inflation numbers moving in opposite directions, have given Republicans in New Hampshire and elsewhere plenty of fodder against their Democratic rivals.

Regardless of the abortion issue, the Democrats will still have a lower voter turnout than Republicans, because people are so frustrated with Joe Biden and the Democrats in Washington who are doing absolutely nothing to help our economy, said Mike Dennehy, a veteran New Hampshire Republican strategist.

Democrats dismiss that charge. In conversations and press calls, Hassan, Pappas and Kuster were all quick to describe efforts to lower gas prices and prescription drug costs. Hassan has for months been pushing to suspend the 18 cents-per-gallon federal gas tax a call that hasnt generated much enthusiasm in Washington, and which her Republican rivals have dismissed as an election year gimmick.

I know there are a number of economic challenges that were facing in New Hampshire, Pappas said in an interview. Were working hard on gas prices, and lowering prices at the grocery store and addressing inflation.

While Democrats are trying to leverage abortion as a major campaign issue, they have to give equal weight to inflation and cost of living concerns.

Obviously, the pocketbook issues, thats top of mind for voters, Kuster said. But I would not underestimate particularly the decision in Roe that hits so close to home and affects peoples personal lives.

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Democrats push for campaign reset in the most pro-abortion rights swing state - POLITICO

Here are tidbits, observations and laments from Tuesdays primary elections.

Be careful what you pay for. Ken Griffin, the billionaire investment titan, fronted $50 million to back Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin in the Republican gubernatorial primary, hoping Irvin could smash Griffins nemesis and fellow billionaire, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, in the fall elections.

Pritzker and his allies preferred another opponent and poured tens of millions of dollars into a campaign that excoriated Irvin and propped up his chief competitor, Illinois state Sen. Darren Bailey.

The Democrats were meddling, Republicans howled.

The meddling worked. Bailey captured the GOP nomination with 57.5% of Tuesdays primary vote, the Tribune reported. That sets up a Bailey-Pritzker matchup for the fall.

David vs. Goliath, Chicago versus Downstate, the farmer vs. the billionaire.

Some give Pritzker high odds in the Nov. 8 general election. Yep, and Irvin was supposed to be a shoo-in for the GOP gubernatorial nomination.

Bailey, the farmer from Xenia, will be a fierce opponent. He ran an astute grassroots campaign with an ample and wily social media presence.

Dont let Baileys folksy aw, shucks ways fool you. He shined on primary night, showing he can be as effective speechifying at the podium as commanding a tractor.

Republican gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey celebrates with supporters on primary election night June 28, 2022, in Effingham. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Pritzker may be riding high on his slam-dunk Democratic renomination. So high, in fact, that he is putting out feelers for a 2024 presidential run.

The governor recently flew to New Hampshire to appear at a Democratic Party convention and campaign for some of the states top Democrats.

His name keeps springing up for 2024, though his people say he is focused on his own reelection. Sure.

Be careful what you ask for, J.B. High ambition can equal dangerous hubris. Get reelected first.

Griffin was a sore loser even before he lost. Illinois richest man announced he was abandoning Illinois, Irvin and the rest of his statewide slate less than a week before his candidates bit the electoral dust.

The petulant Griffin is going to gator-land, moving his family and his many employees from Illinois to Miami. There he will avidly support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reelection bid. DeSantis must be salivating at the prospect of Griffins largesse as he plots his own presidential run.

DeSantis should beware of his fickle benefactor. Irvin can clue you in. Griffin will own you. One false move from you, and the bucks might dry up at exactly the wrong time.

Jonathan Jackson prevailed over 16 other candidates in the Democratic race for the 1st Congressional District, winning 28.2% of the vote.

The district enjoys a vaunted history. Famous African American men have held that seat since 1928, including Oscar Stanton De Priest, the first African American elected to Congress in the 20th century; the Olympian Ralph Metcalfe; Harold Washington, Chicagos first Black mayor; and the current occupant, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, the former Black Panther radical and Chicago alderman. Rush is retiring after 30 years in office.

The district spans Chicagos South Side to the southern suburbs and exurbs and is staunchly Democratic, making Jackson a near-certain winner in November.

The South Side businessman got a big lift from his marquee family name. He is the son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights icon, and brother of former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who was convicted of federal fraud charges in 2013.

Family names are golden in politics. Even tarnished ones can pay off in Chicago. Just ask the Daleys, Madigans, Burkes and Cullertons.

Jonathan Jackson will take the congressional seat under a cloud. Critics blasted him for accepting money from political action committees with links to cryptocurrency interests. More than $1 million in those donations helped fuel his TV radio and billboard ads.

Even before the votes have been counted, Jackson has already put up a for sale sign, said a fellow 1st District candidate, 3rd Ward Ald. Pat Dowell.

Dowell and the other women in that race should have found a smoke-filled room and cut a deal to get behind one of their own.

Bobby Bigfoot Rush heartily endorsed and campaigned for one of them, Karin Norington-Reaves, former CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership. Reaves came in third with about 14% of the vote.

The runup to the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade triggered an avalanche of assurances that the news would gin up voter engagement and turnout.

Not.

About 20% of registered voters turned out in Chicago and Cook County, according to election officials.

Hope springs eternal. Theres always another election around the bend. The Nov. 8 midterm election is up next, then Chicagos citywide races on Feb. 28.

Seven elected city officials sought higher office on Tuesday. One prevailed.

Six Chicago aldermen tried to move up, but only one succeeded: 12th Ward Ald. George Cardenas of the Southwest Side, who won a seat on the Cook County Board of Review.

Dowell and Ald. Gilbert Villegas lost their campaigns for the 1st and 3rd Congressional District seats, respectively. South Side Ald. Howard Brookins and Ald. Chris Taliaferro of the West Side lost contests for judicial seats.

Meanwhile, South Side Ald. David Moore and Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia came up short in their bids for Illinois secretary of state, losing to former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.

As they lick their wounds, dont be surprised to see some eyeing another bid for the fifth floor of City Hall.

Hello, Mayor Lori Lightfoot!

Laura Washington is a political commentator and longtime Chicago journalist. Her columns appear in the Tribune each Monday. Write to her at LauraLauraWashington@gmail.com.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

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Laura Washington: Democrats and J.B. Pritzker should be careful of buyers' remorse - Chicago Tribune