What’s in the Back of Every Politician’s Mind

Crowley’s downfall was a reminder of a cardinal principal of politics that activists should bear in mind. Politicians should always be thinking about the next election, because if they don’t, upsets like AOC happen.

Politicians finding themselves unemployed after not paying attention to reelection is a bipartisan activity. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was similarly ousted in his Republican primary election. That was a stunning defeat at the time, but pundits chalked it up to a lack of focus on reelection.

“This is Eric Cantor’s fault. He was in Washington on Election Day, not back in his district,” CNN chief national correspondent John King said at the time. “His confidence, his smugness, his arrogance cost him his seat.”

“I always remind people, winners make policy and losers go home,” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell once famously said.