I had high hopes for this article, but most of your arguments - overly simplistic and largely duplicative - reveal a fundamental lack of understanding about the makeup and organizing principles of the Democratic party and the nature of our target electorate. The GOP is centered around a common ideology. The Democrats are a coalition party - different factions that need to support each other's goals even if they may not be their own top priority.

The "Democrats don't know how to message" canard in particular ignores the fact that there is no singular message that works for all Democrats. What's more, our policies and the messaging around them are more complicated. They don't fit on a bumper sticker and require more in-depth explanation than the media will cover and frankly, than the average voter will indulge. Republican districts are largely homogenous and respond to similar talking points. Democratic districts, even the safe ones, are unique and require targeted attention. Like it or not, the battleground is the center. We have to play the field as it lies.

The problem this time was the targeted messaging from the individual candidates was drowned out by the drumbeat of Scarequote Socialism - long understood to be the kiss of death for Democrats in swing districts.

This year the issue was compounded by members of our own party reinforcing the assertion that "a vote for Democrats is a vote for socialized healthcare and defunding the police" - even going so far as to run their own ads in swing districts saying the exact thing GOP opponents were saying. It was too much.

Joe Biden was a known quantity and they were unable to redefine him or tar him with the "socialist" label. He also commanded a platform from which he could emphatically deny that he was a proxy for the "socialist wing" of the party and state for the record that he opposed M4A, GND, and Defunding the Police. Down-ballot Democrats didn't have that and ultimately many weren't able to withstand the assault from both sides.

There are other factors - the embarrassing primary debates come to mind. Also the low-dollar fundraising that rewards fringe ideas and discourteous "zingers" created the impression that underdog candidates were doing better than they were, which attracted more low dollar donations at the expense of viable candidates who desperately needed funds.

But fundamentally, this Congressional election was lost when we allowed media savvy "socialists" to become the face of the party and validated what we knew GOP would say about our candidates. I'm surprised we didn't lose by more.