Bennet, Blumenthal Take Home Wins
Jewish Senate candidates look to November
August 11, 2010
Sen. Michael Bennet.(Bennet for Senate (which rhymes!))
Last night saw several primaries in the run-up to November’s midterm elections, including the resolution of the most heated Jew-vs.-Jew race this side of the Illinois Ninth’s Schakowsky-vs.-Pollak: In Colorado, Sen. Michael Bennet fought off primary challenger Andrew Romanoff, who had received former President Clinton’s support. Bennet will face conservative Republican Ken Buck in the general.
The only other Jew involved in a notable primary yesterday was longtime Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. Running unopposed (and weathering minor scandal), he secured the Democratic nomination to succeed Sen. Chris Dodd; he will be opposed by Linda McMahon, the wife of professional wrestling impresario Vince McMahon.
If all Jewish candidates lose, there will be a paltry 11 Jewish senators, and Jews will be overrepresented in the upper legislative chamber by a staggeringly low 915 percent. If all Jewish candidates win, however, there will be lucky-number 18 Jewish senators. Despite the general political zeitgeist, which is blowing toward the GOP, three weeks ago Nate Silver had Colorado leaning for Bennet and Connecticut safe for Blumenthal.
Liberal Favorites Fall as Ga. Waits [Politico]
Earlier: Jew Versus Jew
Sherrod Turns Pawn in All-Jewish Race
Meet the Likely Next Jewish Senator
Midterm Jews
Marc Tracy is a staff writer at The New Republic, and was previously a staff writer at Tablet. He tweets @marcatracy.
