DSA Wins, the Sununu-Brown Debate & 2028 Predictions | Scala & McGee Roundtable

UNH political scientist Dante Scala and Chuck McGee join Michael Graham to unpack the Democratic socialist wave in New York, what it means for New Hampshire primaries, the Sununu-Brown Senate debate, the CD-1 campaign that still doesn't exist, and their 2028 presidential picks. Scala warns that if Sullivan and Shaheen go negative on each other, a progressive could sneak through on the Democratic side. McGee says Shaheen is running out the clock from the basement and nobody's going to catch her. On the Senate side, the panel agrees Brown had his two minutes at the debate — and whiffed. ————————————————— ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro 1:03 – Do the DSA wins in New York matter for New Hampshire? 1:30 – Scala: One in six NH Democratic primary voters identify as socialist 2:16 – McGee: "The cry baby generation" — that's not where NH is 3:22 – Scala: If Sullivan and Shaheen go negative, a progressive could pop 4:25 – Graham: Your premise assumes there's an actual campaign happening 5:06 – How DSA candidates won: Low income and voters of color vs. rich white women 5:14 – McGee: NH Democrats go to the Bedford Starbucks — they're invested 6:18 – Is this normal? Is the CD-1 campaign weirdly quiet? 6:33 – Scala: This sleepy pre-September primary happens every cycle 7:51 – Candidates are still on the "Who's He?" test 8:04 – McGee disagrees: Shaheen is running out the clock from the basement 9:05 – McGee: Go big early or go home — the clock is running out 9:34 – Graham: Neither party's voters are asking for change in these races 10:12 – Scala: Don't put Shaheen in the same position as Sununu — Sullivan is the real threat 11:06 – Sullivan fits the mold of every NH Democrat they've elected 11:34 – McGee: Sullivan needs her entire million just to match the Shaheen name ID 12:34 – The Senate debate: Brown vs. Sununu 12:57 – Graham: It was two guys who've held office doing their thing 13:39 – Senator Kennedy: "I like Brown, but he's not the best candidate" 13:50 – Scala: Brown's best argument is "I'm independent" — that doesn't win primaries 15:08 – McGee: Some people still think it's Chris Sununu running 15:36 – McGee: Brown has no ammo — no money, no name, no Trump endorsement 16:12 – Brown's attack mailer — but he didn't use it at the debate 16:43 – Scala: Brown should be throwing weird stuff — but he doesn't have it in him 17:32 – McGee: Brown's been offered positions to step aside — he's staying in 18:23 – Sununu's gratuitous swipe at Ayotte on the bathroom bill — did not play well 18:48 – Single payer health care: Are Democrats embracing it now? 19:16 – McGee: "If you love rationing and waiting 8 months, God bless you" 20:08 – Somebody has to pay for R&D — it won't be Sierra Leone 20:44 – Scala: This gets hashed out in 2028, not 2026 22:15 – The left's Freedom Caucus: Will Jeffries have the same problem as Johnson? 22:32 – 2028 predictions: Who are the nominees? 22:44 – McGee: Vance and Newsom 22:54 – Scala: Vance yes, Newsom no — don't count out the left lane 23:55 – McGee: The DNC will kneecap progressives by starting in South Carolina 25:07 – Goodlander joins the anti-DSA caucus — the establishment is fighting back 25:33 – Is Bernie going to run? McGee: "Another lake house, why not?" 25:49 – Scala: NH will vote when it votes — the question is whether candidates show up 27:25 – Scala: Democrats need an Obama, not just an anti-Trump 28:06 – McGee: It all comes down to pocketbooks — Carville was right ————————————————— 🔗 Subscribe at NHJournal.com Memberships start at $4.99/month or $50/year