Politics

Conor Lamb’s Rise in Pennsylvania Scares Republicans—and Democrats

The “God-fearing, gun-owning, job-protecting Democrat” is a challenge to his party, which may have an unruly majority caucus if it wins control of the House.

Illustration: Tomi Um for Bloomberg Businessweek

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By Peter Coy and Arit John

March 15, 2018 at 8:01 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

This article is part of the March 19, 2018 issue of businessweek.

If Conor Lamb’s apparent win in the heart of Trump country is any indication, the Democratic Party will have to widen its ideological tent to accommodate a diverse slate of candidates running in what’s shaping up as a Democratic wave in November. Lamb, a 33-year-old retired Marine and federal prosecutor, clung to a 627-vote lead on March 14, the day after a special congressional election in southwestern Pennsylvania. If seated, he’ll be among the most conservative Democrats in the House.

After spending much of the past decade focusing on progressive social issues, Democrats are throwing out ideological purity tests and fielding moderate and conservative candidates in places where Trump ran strong in 2016. It’s working: Winners include Senator Doug Jones in Alabama and Governor Ralph Northam in Virginia. Lamb’s strong performance in a district Trump won by almost 20 percentage points is a shock to the GOP, but it’s also a challenge to Democrats, who may have an unruly majority if they win back the House.