Tameika Isaac Devine, the Dem mayoral candidate, was not able to win the race in Columbia country despite the endorsements of former President Barack Obama or House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn. Republican candidate Daniel Rickenmann (a Columbia businessman) defeated Devine 52%-48% Tuesday evening in the same county that President Biden won by almost 40 points in 2020.


According to reports, Obama supported Devine with an audio message of support. Obama previously won the county in 2008 by 29 points and 2012 by 33. Clyburn, a well-known Dem, also supported Devine. Many believe that his endorsement saved President Biden from the disastrous 2020 campaign. Columbia has been consistently blue over the years and the GOP hasn’t put forward anyone as a predecessor to Stephen Benjamin.


The GOP compares Rickenmann’s victory to Virginia’s success weeks ago that elected Glenn Youngkin (a GOP businessman) as the next governor. Despite Virginians voting blue many times, this is not surprising. Sen. Rick Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee celebrated Rickenmann’s victory as part of a “red wave.”


These Dem losses are coming as Biden’s poll numbers keep on falling. A poll earlier this week showed a dire picture about the party’s prospects in the 2022 midterms.


This survey was conducted after the Virginia elections but before the House Dems adopted the Infrastructure bill. It revealed that Biden had near-rock-bottom approval ratings, while Vice President Kamala Harris had even worse numbers. The generic congressional ballot showed that the Dems trailed by a wide margin.


Biden currently holds a 37.8% approval rate and 59% disapproval. 64% of respondents stated that Biden did a worse than expected job and they don’t want him running for reelection. 


If there is nothing of significance before midterms, then the Congressional Dems might have a hard time maintaining their small majority. The GOP leads by 46%-38% on a generic congressional ballot.