The lesson from these two concurrent races should be clear. One, Democrats can’t rely on mobilization alone to win elections. When they tack left to energize their base, they inevitably energize the other side even more. Persuading moderates and avoiding the alienation of the opposition are critical elements to success.

Many Democrats have become so enamored with the Stacey Abrams model of campaigning that they forget that she lost a very winnable governor race in Georgia in a wave year for her party. Her unapologetic embrace of identity politics is rocket fuel to the very Republicans she’s looking to defeat.

Second, running as woke culture warriors will be a losing strategy. The reality is that much of the country is less revolutionary than the youngest, most-progressive Democratic activists. Wisconsin Republicans rallied behind Hagedorn because they felt he was being punished over his religious beliefs. Attempts to shame individuals’ deeply held values will backfire, and will spur conservatives to protect religious liberty.