Last white Blue Dog Democrat in Deep South John Barrow loses his reelection

Most political analysts and commentators anticipated U.S. Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga) to lose tonight, but the race for Georgia’s 12^th congressional district was still one of the closest contests of the 2014 midterms cycle in Georgia.  Barrow lost to his Republican opponent Rick Allen 47-53 percent, with 98 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night.

Barrow’s district was redrawn by Georgia’s Republican legislature after the 2010 census. The new district lost most of Savannah, a Democratic stronghold, and gained conservative Augusta.  As a result, the 12^th district now has significantly more registered Republicans than Democrats.

The congressman won by eight points in 2012, with help of a very high tuout by Democrats who came out for President Barack Obama. Historically, in Georgia and in most of the country, midterm elections have attracted more Republicans than Democrats.

Barrow is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives, and was the last white member of the coalition and the House from the Deep South.  The Democrat has a centrist record, supporting the opposing party about half the time.  Quite often Barrow has been asked why not just change party affiliation, but the congressman says that the party label wouldn’t change the way he votes.

With his moderate voting record, Barrow was Georgia Democrats’ first pick to run for U.S. Senate this year, after Republican Saxby Chambliss (R) announced his retirement. Barrow seriously considered it but opted against it, focusing instead on his difficult reelection in the 12^th district.

Allen, a businessman who owns a construction company, is a decidedly conservative Republican. He is certainly not going to vote with Democrats, so Barrow’s loss is an obvious rejection of bipartisanship and congressional compromise.