From The Hill, about moderate-to-conservative Democrats in Congress: "Blue Dog Democrats will limp into the 113th Congress with their numbers
cut in half — a diminished minority within a minority party. The once-influential coalition of conservative Democrats, which counted
54 members following the 2008 election, is now striving for relevance
and ways to replenish its ranks."
More about the Blue Dog Coalition's membership woes: "In
a best-case scenario, the Blue Dogs will include as many as 15 members
in the next Congress, if Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) wins a recount and
if Rep.-elect Pete Gallego (D-Texas) joins their ranks. That’s roughly half as many lawmakers as the Blue Dogs had after the 2010 elections."
The article continues about the group: "In all, the coalition lost 13 members this year. But only four of those losses came from Republican’s in the general election. Unlike
the 2010 GOP wave — where Republicans knocked off about 23 of the 54
members — a series of events converged early in the cycle that ensured
even before Election Day the group would be nearly cut in half. Twenty-seven
members started off the 112th Congress. By Nov. 6, only 18 remained on
the ballot after two abrupt resignations, three retirements, two primary
defeats, a successful Senate campaign and the shooting of Rep.
Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.)."
Blue Dog Democrats Fight For Relevance
