I had some interesting experiences w/ Rep. Clay while in politics. I wrote about them 5 yrs ago in a book. Excerpt below.

Maybe the most interesting thing is that after backing my opponent, on Election Night he was the 1st person to tell me I'd won...in person, at our party.

I screwed up this thread, but a few more thoughts on some reasons for this upset, which again, I did not predict.

1) Cori's a powerful speaker who ran an effective campaign. And COVID may have helped her sneak up on him in a way few 2nd-time challengers are able to do. (3/?)

2) Lacy didn't raise very much for a) an incumbent w/ 20 yrs seniority who b) chairs a fairly powerful subcommittee, c) had one of his closest races in '18, d) was facing an opponent who never stopped running, & e) watched several urban Dem colleagues go down in primaries. (4/?)

3) The contrast b/w Cori's omnipresence & powerful speeches on the ground since Ferguson & Lacy's general absence - not just from protests, but from the district - likely became starker than ever during this summer's renewed activism - activism that boosted her campaign. (5/?)