What is a blue dog?

The term 'Blue Dog' typically refers to members of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate and centrist Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. They focus on fiscal responsibility, bipartisanship, and pragmatic solutions to legislative issues. The coalition was formed in 1995 and is known for bridging the gap between liberal and conservative lawmakers, often playing a key role in closely divided legislative matters. The name 'Blue Dog' comes from the idea of being 'choked blue' by both extremes of the political spectrum.