Republican John Kennedy Wins US Senate Runoff In Louisiana

[Mike67]

Republican John Kennedy wins the Louisiana Senate Runoff Election which gives the GOP a 52-48 lead in the Senate.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/republican-john-kennedy-wins-louisiana-runoff-election-for-u-s-senate-seat-1481426373   

[The Arizonan]

So, he rose from the dead and switched his voter registration to Republican?

[Mike67]

So, he rose from the dead and switched his voter registration to Republican?

LOL kind of strange to have a GOP Senator named John Kennedy. Maybe he'll become President one day

[nclib]

The irony is that this John Kennedy not only used to be a Democrat but ran to the left of the main Democrat in the 2004 LA Senate race.

[Mike67]

The irony is that this John Kennedy not only used to be a Democrat but ran to the left of the main Democrat in the 2004 LA Senate race.

Sounds like he could very well side with the Democrats on certain Senate votes.

[smoltchanov]

The irony is that this John Kennedy not only used to be a Democrat but ran to the left of the main Democrat in the 2004 LA Senate race.

Sounds like he could very well side with the Democrats on certain Senate votes.

Most of relatively conservative Southern Democrats, who switched to Republican party, were still members of relatively "moderate" part of Republican caucus. So - why not? He is a "Southern populist" on at least some issues. It's now simply more convenient in the South to be a Republican for successfull career. And for more or less conservative Democrats, like Kennedy - twice so: Democratic caucus is in minority almost everywhere in the South, and they themselves are in minority in (usually Black-dominated) Democratic party caucus in their states. In Louisiana, for example, after 2019, state legislative Democratic caucus (which is close to 50-50 now), will have strong "black majority". So, Kennedy's career is typical for many southern politicians..

[KingSweden]

The irony is that this John Kennedy not only used to be a Democrat but ran to the left of the main Democrat in the 2004 LA Senate race.

Sounds like he could very well side with the Democrats on certain Senate votes.

He's something of a Southern populist. Doubt he's a vote for privatizing Medicare, for example

He's not David Vitter, either

[I’m not Stu]

The irony is that this John Kennedy not only used to be a Democrat but ran to the left of the main Democrat in the 2004 LA Senate race.

Sounds like he could very well side with the Democrats on certain Senate votes.

He's something of a Southern populist. Doubt he's a vote for privatizing Medicare, for example

He's not David Vitter, either

Exactly. I think he would side with Democrats on Medicare and Social Security.

[Young Conservative]

The irony is that this John Kennedy not only used to be a Democrat but ran to the left of the main Democrat in the 2004 LA Senate race.

Sounds like he could very well side with the Democrats on certain Senate votes.

He's something of a Southern populist. Doubt he's a vote for privatizing Medicare, for example

He's not David Vitter, either

Exactly. I think he would side with Democrats on Medicare and Social Security.

He is by no means a conservative, which is why he should be prepared to fight for every term he has because the conservative movement rallied against him the jungle primary and they won't rally for him in the next one.

[I’m not Stu]

Kennedy is a good example of a perennial candidate who finally wins.

[Mike67]

Kennedy is a good example of a perennial candidate who finally wins.

My money is on him probably being one term and out

[I’m not Stu]

Kennedy is a good example of a perennial candidate who finally wins.

My money is on him probably being one term and out

He does have crossover appeal. Many Democrats also voted for him. He could win in 2022 if Trump tries to privatize some of the social safety net.

[Indy Texas]

The irony is that this John Kennedy not only used to be a Democrat but ran to the left of the main Democrat in the 2004 LA Senate race.

Sounds like he could very well side with the Democrats on certain Senate votes.

Most of relatively conservative Southern Democrats, who switched to Republican party, were still members of relatively "moderate" part of Republican caucus. So - why not? He is a "Southern populist" on at least some issues. It's now simply more convenient in the South to be a Republican for successfull career. And for more or less conservative Democrats, like Kennedy - twice so: Democratic caucus is in minority almost everywhere in the South, and they themselves are in minority in (usually Black-dominated) Democratic party caucus in their states. In Louisiana, for example, after 2019, state legislative Democratic caucus (which is close to 50-50 now), will have strong "black majority". So, Kennedy's career is typical for many southern politicians..

The only SoDems who turned into conservative Republicans were the ones who were already really conservative as Democrats. But those tend to be the people who switched early on (Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms, etc). Most of the ones who switched in the 2000s or later are just ideologically mushy opportunists.

Kennedy will indisputably vote to the left of Vitter. He'll vote for the procedural stuff he is expected to vote for as a Republican, and he'll check all the boxes on social issues, but he's never going to be a fiscal hawk or a Tea Party purist. Like any good Louisiana pol, he's going to make sure the bread's buttered before he brings it home. As long as he shills for the oil & gas industry when necessary and doesn't insult Muh Faith or Muh Family Values, nobody is really going to care what he does.