Adrian OceguedaVerified account

Even with the most charismatic candidate (Beto) we spend millions of dollars, have great mobilization and still fall short. In HD 28 we mobilized money, presidential candidates, and the support of that same charismatic candidate;

and, our polarizing efforts worked to mobilize their polarizing efforts, so we saw a retreat of our electoral margins. Because of all of this, I truly believe that any of the “lead" candidates on the Democratic side of this race will lose in the general election,

regardless of who it is and the money they have. The reason being is that these candidates are running politics by the same playbook that has failed in our state over several election cycles.

And it has nothing to do with their demographic profile, their character, or their commitment to improving our nation. They are simply acting as rational political characters in this increasingly polarized and broken political system.

Appearing at forums most of them play to shallow polarizing progressive tag lines, not because they are stupid but because they want to win and they need to appeal to those parts of our base that are motivated enough to come to a political event.

One of my opponents aptly pointed out to me on the side of one of these events, “we are just here to provide the entertainment.” Unless we start to challenge political norms and shift our communication in a way that breaks from the partisan stalemate,

our party and the country will continue to lose (regardless of affiliation). The more we reinforce the divide in our primary process; the more non-thinking intuitive fear messaging will have an influence on elections.

Over the remaining weeks until the primary, I will share with voters how I believe my approach is different and gives the country the best chance of winning in the fall. But for now, I ask that we reflect on how we contribute to this system.