Politics & Power Quote by Martin Frost

That line is pure campaign jujitsu: a promise not to win by tiptoeing around the other side's brand, but by stepping onto it and trying to flip it. Martin Frost, a long-serving Texas Democrat and former head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is signaling a specific kind of political confidence: we are not conceding the cultural high ground Republicans claim as theirs.

The phrase "where they think they are strongest" matters more than "where they are strongest". Frost is implicitly arguing that GOP dominance is partly psychological and performative - built on reputation, messaging discipline, and a kind of inherited credibility on issues like national security, taxes, and values. He's telegraphing an intent to puncture that self-image. It's not just about contesting districts; it's about contesting narratives.

There's also a pragmatic subtext for Democrats: stop playing defense. In the post-Reagan, increasingly nationalized political era Frost operated in, Democrats often tried to survive by triangulating or avoiding certain fights, especially in red states. Frost is advocating the opposite - take the argument to the places that define the opponent's identity, because that's where persuasion (and turnout) is most potent. You don't beat a party by nibbling at its margins; you beat it by making its "safe" issues feel less safe.

Strategically, it's a rallying line for donors and operatives, too: it frames risk as strength, and it justifies spending money in hostile terrain. It's also a warning shot to Republicans: your advantage isn't destiny; it's a story, and stories can be revised.