DONALD Trump's presidential victory in 2016 came as a shock to many people, especially Democrats. Recent electoral trends suggest many Democrats have settled on an explanation: Hillary Clinton was too conservative.

This can be seen in the fact that more Democrats are now embracing the “socialist” label. Time will tell if this helps Democratic candidates win general elections or only party primaries. But there are indications the party's top campaign officials, whose job it is to win elections, have their doubts.

In recent primaries in Nebraska and Pennsylvania, Politico reports that Democratic voters “picked nominees for battleground seats that the national party didn't expect — and may not have wanted.”

In Nebraska, former U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford was the preferred candidate of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, but lost to a more liberal opponent in a congressional primary. Moderate Democrats also lost primary races in Pennsylvania.