Stephen Spruiell suggests that Owens is going to have a lot of tough votes between now and next year’s elections. But Pelosi now has a tiny bit more freedom to let her nervous members vote against her on legislation. She’d be crazy not to use that freedom to protect Owens.
Spruiell concludes, “In the next few months, conservatives will be urging Hoffman to fight on.” Should they? Conservatives should, I think, be grateful that he ran, providing someone for conservatives to support and rebuking the local party establishment. But that doesn’t mean he’s the best candidate going forward.