In a story that largely fell below the radar on Tuesday night, Dennis Kucinich lost the primary election for the Democratic nomination in the new Ninth Congressional District, created when Republicans gerrymandered him and Marcy Kaptur into the same district. It was not close.
In a primary faceoff between two veteran Democratic incumbents, voters in Ohio delivered a victory to Representative Marcy Kaptur, a progressive from Toledo, over Representative Dennis J. Kucinich, leaving him without a seat in Congress for the first time in 16 years
Mr. Kucinich conceded just past midnight Wednesday. With nearly 85 percent of the vote counted, Ms. Kaptur led Mr. Kucinich, her colleague and frequent ally in the House, by about 24 points in the race to represent Ohio’s recently redrawn Ninth Congressional District.
The outcome was largely expected. Mr. Kucinich, an antiwar populist from Cleveland who has run for president twice, lost his district when state lawmakers redrew the electoral map after Ohio, whose population has been dwindling, lost two Congressional seats last year. The new district — a skinny strip of land that covers parts of five counties from Cleveland to Toledo — contained more of Ms. Kaptur’s old territory than Mr. Kucinich’s, and Mr. Kucinich had been struggling to win over voters in areas beyond his traditional stronghold of Cleveland.
It is not clear whether Mr. Kucinich will try to run for public office somewhere else. After his district was eliminated last year, he visited Washington State to explore his options, though his spokesman, Andy Juniewicz, said that Mr. Kucinich had said he “never had any intention of leaving Cleveland.”… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <NY Times>
Dennis’ defeat is a terrible loss. Marcy’s defeat would have been a terrible loss as well. We need them both. When Dennis went to Washington State, I had hope he would try to establish himself there. I understand that the new district was set up to take Dennis out, at the specific request of John Boehner. Perhaps Dennis will move to his district and take on Agent Orange in two years.
16 Responses to “Dennis Down”
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I don’t know Kucinich but I have heard a lot, and I mean a lot of very good things about him. Is it possible that Mr Obama could tap him in an advisory role as part of his cabinet? Mr Obama will need very good people to help drive the change and right the wrongs of 8 years of Baby Bush and repair the path made by the obstructionist GOP.
Unless the Dems get a filibuster proof Senate (virtually impossible unless they change the rules) there is no way Dennis could be confirmed. Republicans could hate him more only if he was black.
One interesting thing is that Rep. Kaptur will be facing off against none other than Samuel “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher this November. And the good thing is that Ohio’s 9th Congressional District is solid Blue! In the District’s Tuesday’s primary, the Democratic vote total for Representative of the 9th was over 76,000 – while the repubican vote total barely reached 29,000.
I’ll predict that race now.
I sincerely hope Dennis will get back to Congress in another district. Though at times quirky, his working class credentials and sympathies are exactly what this country needs going forward.
I agree, Jack. I had to stop supporting him for President because he said he would chose Ron Paul as his running mate, but he needs to be involved.
I know nothing about politics but he looks like a very sweet man but he is also older and we need new blood in Congress and the Senate.
Welcome Carol. 🙂
Paul Ryan is younger, proving that positions on the issues is what matters.
Mr. Kucinich was the member of Congress I respected the most. He was extraordinarily bright and had the courage to vote for his principles. As a vegan, I also admired his lifestyle and willingness to help the ones on this earth who could least help themselves. I am sincerely sorry he lost but hope he will find another place where he can utilize his talents and ethics.
Welcome Marcia! 🙂
I hope he will too.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/496/520/274/appoint-dennis-kucinich-d-oh-to-head-the-us-commodity-futures-trading-commission-cftc/
Petition: appoint Kucinich to head Commodity Futures Trading Commission
#73. I was happy to sign that one!
I wish we could get Dennis to move to southern Illinois & take on Rep. Shimkus (RepubliCON ba$tard who’s been in the Huose over 20 freakin’ horrible years)!!!! I Love Dennis Kucinich!!!! But I swear I wouldn’t stalk him or anything if’n he’d come here!;)
I’d be ha[[y top see him anywhere he could win.
I hadn’t heard this news. Thanks for posting, Tom. At least the person who won is another liberal AND a woman, so that part is a positive. It’s really disappointing that our stupid system allows gerrymandering districts in order to defeat candidates who challenge the powers that be. It is less than honorable action and should be abolished. Districts should be designed by some neutral pattern all over the states, not subject to local political whims. It’s not that difficult to do. We are such a ****ed-up land!
Now, back to Kucinich. I’m really sorry to see him go. I’ve voted for him in primaries before and believe he’s a good man with good values. We need more like him in our government and hope he will come back in some capacity.
“After his district was eliminated last year, he visited Washington State to explore his options, though his spokesman, Andy Juniewicz, said that Mr. Kucinich had said he “never had any intention of leaving Cleveland.”…
Republicans changing of the voting maps… sigh – Republicans gerrymandered