Is Barney Frank in trouble?
The Massachusetts Dem has served in Congress for 30 years — will the GOP finally take him down in Nov.?
In a troubling sign for Democrats, one of the party's best-known incumbents, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), is facing his strongest re-election challenge in years. Although Frank is still favored to carry his Boston-area district — if not in characteristic "steamrolling" fashion (he beat his last opponent by 43 percentage points) — he may be in trouble. Upstart Republican challenger Sean Bielat's internal polls put him just 10 points behind Frank. Could Frank really lose? (Watch Sean Bielat explain why he's running)
Frank is no "shoo-in" this time: In a more typical year, the unknown Sean Bielet, a businessman and former Marine, wouldn't stand a chance against the formidable Frank, says Byron York at Townhall. But even a 14-term incumbent like Frank can't escape "the nervousness plaguing Democrats nationwide" this year and Bielat is savvily arguing that Frank's push to expand homeownership through Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae contributed to the financial meltdown. Telling sign: Even Bill Clinton has been called in to help Frank campaign.
"A GOP unknown in striking distance of Barney Frank"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Frank will win — but he'll have to sweat for it: "Frank is still a strong favorite on Nov. 2," says Tom Diemer at Politics Daily. One of America's "brainiest" politicians, Frank is a household name in his district, and he has $1 million — much more than Bielat has — to spend in the final month before the midterm vote. Still while heavily Democratic Massachusetts has traditionally been "off-limits" to Republicans, no one's forgetting how the GOP's Scott Brown took the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat last January. Frank knows he has to work.
"Barney Frank, in re-election fight, reduces donations to fellow Democrats"
Even if Frank wins, Democrats lose: In previous years, says Andrew Stiles at National Review, Frank has been able to share his "spare [campaign] cash" with his fellow Democrats and campaign actively for more vulnerable candidates in the hope that his aura of invincibility will rub off on them. Now that he has to "fight" to save his own hide, "his diminished capacity to help his own party" amounts to "a victory for Republicans," whether he wins or not.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published