Osborn’s success also shows that traditional New Deal Democratic ideas—a higher minimum wage, taxes on the rich, support for labor, skepticism of corporate power—remain popular with independents and even some Republicans, while the Democratic Party’s coastal brand remains a drag worth upwards of 20 points or more.

At least someone is learning the lessons the Democrats refuse to pay attention to. It’ll be interesting to see if this back to basics approach is successful here, and if so, whether its success can be replicated.