When Notoriety Won’t Win Elections

Democratic candidates such as Beto O’Rourke and Stacey Abrams get lots of attention and millions in donations but keep coming up short.

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Beto O'Rourke poses for a selfie with a supporter. (Sergio Flores for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Democratic Govs. Laura Kelly and Tony Evers spent Tuesday evening celebrating hard-fought reelection battles. Both incumbent governors won narrow victories in their respective ruby-red Kansas and purplish-Wisconsin, proving Democrats can win statewide elections in competitive states.

Despite their success, Kelly and Evers don’t exactly top the list of notable Democratic political figures today. But two who do, Beto O’Rourke and Stacey Abrams, have raked in millions in donations and gobs of national media attention, even though they’ve lost multiple ticket-topping races.

Why have Democrats continue to prop up candidates like them, whose only real political pedigree is losing previous elections? It’s complicated.

O’Rourke, the former El Paso congressman, lost to two-term Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday by roughly 11 points in a race in which his odds were always long: Democrats haven’t won a Texas gubernatorial election since 1990. 

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  1. Bubba

    Social media is built around impulsive reactions, not thoughtful engagement. Does this post make you feel good? UPVOTE. LIKE. Does it make you frown? DOWNVOTE

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  2. Mary Stine

    Thank you Audrey! You've done a good job of pointing out the errors of ActBlue and other small donor machines. Rarely do these help high quality local candidates who are not attention grabbing egoists.
    Our excellent governor, Laura Kelly, and our congresswoman, Sharice Davids, were rarely mentioned in all the screechy texts I got to "save" candidates.
    Anyone not in the millionaire category should probably ONLY donate to local races. And it is crucial that we all get involved and keep a steady eye on local politicians. Because that's where the next Senator, Congressman or even President, is going to get their start.

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  3. Mctaglieri

    I decided O'Rourke would never win ANYTHING in Texas ever again when he made that "hell yes, we're gonna take away your AR-15s" promise during one of the presidential debates. (quoted from memory). Regardless of one's opinion on gun control you don't unequivocally say you're going to take away the most popular gun in the America and expect that people won’t remember it.

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      Robert Smith

      I can see him now on a stool. I kinda feel bad for the twirp.

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    Kurt

    Beto was, is, and shall always be the feckless white guy born to...and married into...privilege. He's the proverbial mope born on 3rd base that thinks he hit a triple and the homer is his for the asking. The sooner he fades the better, and in this particular case, I'm glad Texans gave him the boot.

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  5. Jgall

    Good work and a thoughtful piece. I do have to let my inner teacher come out, though (I have taught for over 40 years). The name of the article uses the word "notoriety" incorrectly. I see this often. Notoriety is being famous for doing something bad. I don't think that is what you mean. It is a different word than "Noteworthy." It is more akin to "notorious." Sorry to be so picky.

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    1. Markb

      Seems to me that notoriety is the correct word. They ARE famous for doing something bad - wasting money on losing elections.

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      Ben Connelly

      Thank you for your comment. As a writer, I appreciate the grammar refresher (especially since I could probably use the lesson). I haven’t made up my mind, but I’m open to the possibility that they are using the word correctly, given that TD’s editors probably do consider running failed campaigns over and over again for personal celebrity while sucking up lots of donation money - which is what Abrams and Beto are known for - to be “something bad.”

      That said, I also think there’s a good chance that you’re right and they meant to use a different word.

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      Adicesa14

      Though I know the meaning and usage of notoriety, I read right past it. Great job of ‘proof reading.’ I hate to bring this up because the entire piece never mentioned him but though Trump was not on any ballot he was a loser in this election for which ‘notoriety’ definitely applied.

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      Kurt

      Good call. I read that headline and wondered why it wasn't corrected in editing, IF there's an editor.

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    5. Chris

      How did I make it to my age without knowing this? Big moment here for me

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  6. Alex G

    All the money in the world won’t buy you more eligible voters in any given precinct. How much O’Rourke support came from outside of Texas?

    All that money has significantly diminishing returns after a point, because the reality is you need to have the power to actually pull the lever in the actual race.

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  7. Donnybrook

    I'm a believer in Fitzgerald's claim that "there are no second acts in America."

    Once a politician gets the stench of loser on them it's hard to overcome.

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      Peter S.

      I mean, Jon Ossoff got there in 2021 after wasting gobs and gobs of donor money in 2018.

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      Kurt

      I thought the same thing until I managed a 2nd and then a 3rd act. The beauty of America is there's always room for another act, a fact Fitzgerald was blind to.

      Politics, otoh, is a cesspit, and once tainted, the smell doesn't go away.

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  8. Zelenkag21

    “Since we had a better night than expected everyone will feel good and learn no lessons.”

    That will definitely be the attitude of the progressive left that dominates the Democratic Party and who have all the money.

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    Probably Wrong

    “[Democrats] have not trained their donors the way I think Republicans have done for the last 30 or 40 years, and that’s to play the long ball.”

    Respectfully, Senator Jones, have you MET the Republican Party’s base? Does it strike you as a collection of long-term strategists?

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    Philbnichols

    Yeah, this is a great dynamic, Audrey. Both parties are so dysfunctional. Thanks

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