Auchincloss: Midterm Results Show ‘Rejection of Extremism’

Congressman Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District, who was just reelected to his second term, is yet to experience what being a member of the minority party is like in Congress.

Based on how Democrats are outperforming expectations, he may not have to learn any time soon.

"Nationally, this was about voters rejecting extremism," Auchincloss said in a recent appearance on WBSM's SouthCoast Tonight. "Democrats hugely outperformed the historical trends."

Auchincloss noted that since the Great Depression, the party that held the presidency had lost on average 28 seats during the midterm election cycles. Democrats are on pace to lose well under those totals and have a chance to retain both chambers of Congress.

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Auchincloss credits the Democrats' strong midterm performance to adopting more moderate positions while drawing stark contrasts to their Republican counterparts.

Auchincloss posted: "The difference was one: Democrats fielded very strong candidates who were authentic to their district and who distanced themselves from hard-left, outside the mainstream positions particularly crime and who focused on lowering costs. And two: who drew a sharp contrast with Republicans who have really extremist positions particularly on democracy and on a woman's right to make her own medical decisions."

Auchincloss quickly built a national profile during his freshman term. He was appointed to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure which helped author the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other key legislation of President Biden's agenda, he was named Vice Chair of the powerful House Committee on Financial Services, and he has been an outspoken member of Congress on major foreign policy discussions such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The first-term congressman was also the only member of the Massachusetts federal delegation who ran unopposed in the primary or general election. Auchincloss, however, does not view whether or not he drew an opponent as a barometer for success or failure.

"I represent 800,000 people and what any one of them might decide to do on a given (election) cycle or not is outside of my control," he said.

Auchincloss said that what he can control is whether or not he is doing what he identifies as his three core jobs as a member of Congress.

The first is using his voice and his vote to represent his constituents on important national issues like protecting democracy and a women's right to choose.

The second is delivering for his district, which includes funding for public works projects, climate action, healthcare, and other essential services.

The third is delivering exceptional constituent services such as helping people in his district access federal government services like securing passports and social security checks.

"I think we did a good job on all three of those in my first term," Auchincloss said. "And I do think, with a terrific team around me, I authentically represented people's values on the momentous questions of the day, I advanced their priorities, and we made sure that we were delivering strong constituent services."

Auchincloss also discussed some of the major happenings in his district such as the visit from President Biden, a housing forum he hosted in Attleboro, a climate summit he held in his hometown of Newton, and his commitment to hosting small-group discussions throughout the CD-4 to ensure he understanding his constituents' needs.

Listen to Marcus Ferro's full discussion with Congressman Jake Auchincloss on WBSM's SouthCoast Tonight