Leftward Lurch

As rumors about a high-profile progressive primary challenge for Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein swirl in California, let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture: California Democrats are in a mad dash to the left, in danger of blowing up their electoral prospects in the process.

The party has imposed litmus tests on single-payer and abortion. So strong is the pull to the left, in a recent survey of Southern California Democratic House challengers, 17 of 22 endorsed a $32 trillion single-payer boondoggle outright.

Feinstein wouldn’t be the first California Democrat to draw a primary challenge, either: vulnerable House Democrat Ami Bera is already being challenged by avowed single-payer advocate and Sanders supporter Brad Westmoreland. And Bera’s California colleagues, Ro Khanna and Barbara Lee, are both openly calling for more primary challengers for incumbent Democrats not sufficiently in servitude to the far-left activist base.

As national Democrats stake their flag in California, it’s becoming obvious the party’s hard lurch to the left is seriously endangering their ability to compete. The more time they spend fighting one another, the less time they have to spend on winning races…