Some socialists lately have dismissed the importance of winning a ballot line headed by workers and socialists. Here's a thread on why I think this is wrong (from my latest piece in @jacobinmag)

1) Most voters don't really differentiate between parties and ballot lines

2) As long as we're junior partners in the Democratic coalition, much of our down ballot campaigning — and organizing generally — will be undermined by being associated with neoliberals like Biden and Pelosi

3) It makes sense for the foreseeable future to run as Dems, but being associated with the Democratic "brand" does undercut our ability to appeal to large numbers of workers beyond "deep blue" urban Democratic strongholds

4) The institutional Democratic Party *is* a real threat to our ability to continue accumulating strength by running on the Democratic ballot line

5) Establishment Dems have the power to block our presidential candidates and they could change state laws to restrict our ability to run in most races

6) Far from being set in stone, electoral primary laws have continued to change significantly over recent years and decades. There's no reason to think establishment Dems won't eventually try to reform these state laws against us once we pose a bigger threat

7) Acknowledging the limitations of being a junior partner to corporate Dems is important today because, among other things, it should push socialists to seriously fight to democratize electoral laws