The specifics of this are worth a glance, even if the hindsight of knowing the Amy McGrath and Jaime Harrison campaigns were “doomed” is a little much (I was certain McGrath was going to lose, I believed the bad polls that showed Harrison had a chance). But this story speaks to some bigger dynamics, namely how much of politics has been nationalized and how important local races remain. People who live in big, liberal cities often seem to place themselves above local politics beyond the mayor, and take for granted how quickly things can change.