Democrat Campaign Chief Maloney Endorses Using Spoiler Candidates in Tight Elections

Democrat campaign leader Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) on July 26 defended moves by strategists in his party to endorse “spoiler candidates” in GOP races to increase Democrats’ odds of victory in tight races.

“Spoiler candidates” refer to candidates thought to be unelectable or more difficult to elect in general elections due to positions they have that are perceived to be radical or too controversial.

Maloney, who serves as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), defended the practice in an early morning July 26 appearance on MSNBC.

During the appearance, the host recounted some efforts by Democrats in 2016 to propel then-candidate Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, hoping that he would be easier for a Democrat to beat; this move blew up in Democrats’ faces, however, after Trump glided to victory against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Citing apparent efforts by Democrats to do the same in tight congressional races this year, the host asked Maloney whether the DCCC was attempting to prop up “far-right” candidates in the same way, in view of the dangers that 2016 unveiled in this strategy.

Maloney left his answer ambiguous, saying that the DCCC considers it important to tread carefully in these efforts, but did not rule them out.

“We have a high bar for that,” Maloney said. “I think if you’re going to do that, you need to really understand what you’re doing, if you’re talking about trying to pick your opponent. You might see us do that, sure, and I think sometimes it does make sense.”

Maloney’s comments come amid a volatile political environment for Democrats, who have been placed on the defensive in the upcoming midterms due to dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden’s performance during his first year in office—particularly as inflation continues to break records and as gas remains around twice the