Progressive Dems in Legislature going the way of the Dodo?

In 2014, my firm, GreenDog Campaigns ran an Assembly race in California's 10th Assembly District for Community College Trustee Diana Conti. She was running to oust a "moderate" Democrat, Marc Levine, who had been elected in 2012. In this overwhelmingly Democratic District, she could easily have come in second to take on the incumbent in the fall, (Califonria has a top two primary, which has seen brutal Dem on Dem fights since 2010), if it were not for some last minute "independent" mailers that boosted the Republican's chances in the primary.

Consequently our candidate was edged out of second place by the Republican, thereby assuring a win for the moderate Dem. We saw a similar thing happen in the special election in District 7 this year. The election in May is now between a moderate Democrat and a more progressive Democrat. If Republicans come out to vote for the moderate, we could see another progressive District go the way of the dodo bird.

This Sacramento Bee article describes the phenomenon: http://www.sacbee.com/...

We all know the dodo is extinct, right? But here's a recipe for Dodo and Nigerian Stew from The Alchemist's Kitchen:
 

• 3 Plantains (on the yellowish end)
• Vegetable Oil
• >1 lb chicken
• 1/4 red bell pepper, minced (I minced it all and froze the remainder in three separate bags for next time)
• 6 oz can tomato paste
• 14.5 oz can diced tomato
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• <2 C water
• 1 chicken bouillon cube or equivalent
• Salt and Pepper
• Thyme
• Rice, preferably basmati or jasmine

This recipe can be made on the stove or in the crock pot.  Watch for distinction in directions.  Sautee onion and bell pepper in tomato paste in fry pan for crock pot or large stew pot for stove.  Move to crock pot if cooking that way.  Add chicken, diced tomato, bouillon, salt and pepper to taste, a dash of thyme, and water (less than one cup for crock pot, 1-2 cups on stove).  Don’t add too much water–remember, the diced tomato were canned in water and you don’t want it to taste too watery.  Simmer (1.5-2 hrs on the stove or >6 hrs in the crock pot), stirring occasionally and watching viscosity.  During the last 30-60 minutes, peel plantains by chopping off the ends, slicing down the side (just through the skin), and removing the skin.  Slice at an angle to make elongated pieces about a thumb joint thick.  Heat vegetable oil in frying pan.  Place plantain pieces in oil not touching.  Turn when the bottoms are light to golden brown.  Remove after the other side has reached a similar color and place on a napkin-lined plate to absorb excess oil.  Add plantains to stew and cook for a minimum of 10 additional minutes.  Cook rice according to instructions.  Serve with stew over rice.