The hottest Electoral Strategy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

DSA’s Electoral Strategy Works: A Response to Left Voice & DSA’s Left-Wing Critics

JoeWrote • 33 implied HN points • 20 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Electoral Strategy
  1. DSA favors a pragmatic electoral strategy, running on multiple ballot lines rather than being tied to the Democratic Party, and that approach has increased its membership and elected wins.
  2. Demanding a fully independent socialist party misunderstands American politics: independent left parties have had little electoral impact, so meeting people where they are is needed to build power.
  3. Open debate and criticism are part of the organization, and wasting time on purity fights weakens the left — unity around practical, result‑driven organizing is more effective than ideological infighting.

Progressives Shouldn't Cut Income Taxes

JoeWrote • 39 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Electoral Strategy
  1. Promising income tax cuts only reinforces the Republican idea that taxes are a burden and makes Democrats look weak. That dynamic can help Republicans win and ultimately hurt the working-class people progressives aim to help.
  2. Progressives should reframe taxes as a positive civic tool that pays for public services and a higher quality of life, and push for steadily rising, progressive tax brackets that ask more from those who earn more. This avoids treating taxes as something the average person should resent.
  3. Being honest about raising taxes to fund popular programs can work politically; clear, adult messaging about trade-offs builds trust and helps break the bipartisan neoliberal agreement that treats taxes as inherently bad.

There’s a Simple but Subtle Point in the Latest Analysis of Left-Wing Dysfunction

I Might Be Wrong • 15 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Electoral Strategy
  1. The left is becoming more extreme and out of touch with mainstream America. Many people feel this shift but now there is data to support it.
  2. Democrats should focus on the majority of voters and not just the loud minority who want more radical changes.
  3. Groups that threaten not to vote for Democrats unless they move further left are bluffing. Most voters won't really abandon them, especially for someone like Trump.

A common fallacy, circulating this week. Plus some polisci.

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 09 Feb 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Electoral Strategy
  1. Polls don’t tell the whole story about voter decisions. Just because most people support a policy doesn't mean it will help a candidate win votes.
  2. The strength of people's feelings about an issue matters. Some may care a lot about a policy while others may not think it influences their vote much.
  3. Good public policy should matter to political parties, not just winning elections. Sometimes, making tough decisions for long-term benefits is more important than immediate electoral gains.

Anecdotal Evidence

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 06 Feb 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Electoral Strategy
  1. A political sermon in a church can really grab people's attention and spark conversation. The unusual nature of such a message can make it memorable for the congregation.
  2. Catholics might start to see themselves as politically united, especially if they feel the government is acting against their beliefs. This could change how they vote, which is important for political parties.
  3. If people feel like their religious values are under attack, it can create a strong negative sentiment towards the government. This could be a problem for politicians, especially during election season.
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Seeing Like a Party

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 07 Sep 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Electoral Strategy
  1. Members of Congress usually focus on three main goals: getting re-elected, gaining power, and making good laws. Often, re-election is the top priority because it allows them to achieve the other two.
  2. Political parties can sometimes take risks by supporting policies that might hurt them in the short term. Unlike individual members, parties can survive losses and hope to regain power later, which may lead them to make different decisions.
  3. There's a trend in how people view party success, with a focus mainly on winning elections. This mindset ignores the importance of long-term policy goals, which can be more beneficial for the party's future.