The strategy of helping to boost GOP extremists in swing districts and states paid off:
The political support ranged from money to TV ads and email blasts. What made it unusual is where it came from, and what it was meant to do: Back in the primary season, a number of Democrats tried to boost far-right Republican candidates whom they deemed easier to beat in November.
The strategy seems to have paid off: In high-profile races where Democratic candidates or groups successfully used the strategy during the primaries, all of the Republicans they helped have either lost or are trailing, two days after Election Day.
The tactic drew headlines and warnings that the Democrats were playing with fire — especially after polls showed some of the targeted races tightening this fall. After all, the Democrats were spending resources on their rivals’ behalf, including several Trump loyalists. And they did so at the expense of moderates, writing off hopes of a less strident discourse.
Of course, not all of the far-right candidates supported by Democratic groups won their primary races — in fact, far from it. In September, an analysis by The Washington Post found that seven of 13 Democrat-backed Republican candidates lost their primaries after having more than a combined $12 million spent on their behalf.
Every one of the right wing Trumpers the Dems helped the GOP nominate (usually by painting them as the extremists they are by the way, thus making the MAGAs love them more) lost.
A lot of people I respect thought this tactic was very stupid if not downright immoral but I was never among them. It seemed to me that while it was risky, in this environment swing district GOP “moderates” were so little different in terms of the big picture that having them in congress wouldn’t offer any benefit to Democrats and very likely might cost them seats. The people running campaigns in swing districts know what their constituents are willing to bear and they knew their voters were not going to go for these extremists. As I said, it was risky, but in my opinion worth the risk. A few more Taylor Greens wouldn’t have made much difference and there was a very real upside. It paid off.