Well, chalk up another epic swing-and-miss for the Democratic Party’s so-called “rising stars”, this time in Mobile, Alabama, where Republican Spiro Cheriogotis just handed them a defeat they didn’t see coming. And get this: he beat Democrat Barbara Drummond by nearly three percentage points in a city Kamala Harris won in 2024. Oops.
Drummond wasn’t just any local candidate. She was one of the DNC’s hand-picked darlings — personally hyped by none other than former Vice President Kamala Harris herself. During an MSNBC interview with Rachel Maddow, Harris rattled off a list of “stars” in the party and gave Drummond top billing, calling her a leader who would build a city “for all of us.” Because of course, nothing screams unity like a progressive backed by the least popular VP in modern history. Just ask the voters how that worked out.
Harris tried to throw her clout behind the campaign, which is kind of like trying to put out a fire with gasoline. Drummond even posted a gushing thank-you on X, calling it an “honor” to be called a star. The next day? She lost.
Cheriogotis ended up with 51.39 percent of the vote to Drummond’s 48.61 — in a race the experts said would lean blue, especially since Kamala supposedly carried the city by 10 points in 2024. The media and Democratic strategists figured the GOP’s hold was fragile, since outgoing Mayor Sandy Stimpson had been there for two decades and wasn’t seeking reelection. Wrong again.
This wasn’t just a win — it was a political slap in the face. Voters didn’t just reject Drummond; they rejected the DNC’s top-down strategy of parachuting in progressive talking points backed by elite endorsements. Turns out, Mobile residents want leadership that actually reflects their priorities — not Twitter slogans or MSNBC soundbites.
Cheriogotis ran a locally rooted campaign with a message that clearly resonated: less noise, more results. He celebrated with his family, his supporters, and Mayor Stimpson after the race was called just two hours after polls closed. That’s what winning looks like.
“From the very beginning, we said that this will be a campaign for Mobilians run by Mobilians,” Cheriogotis said during his victory speech. That’s a refreshing contrast to the Democrats’ playbook, which basically amounts to, “Just trust Kamala.”
Maybe the lesson here is simple: if Kamala Harris calls you a rising star, better bring an umbrella — because a political rainout is probably on the way.
Leave a Comment