RNC Platform and down ballot races?

[OscarQ]

I've been wondering how to phrase a post for the past couple of days.

Given the RNC platform, and the godawful white power rally that was the convention, how will you factor that into down ballot elections this year?

Normally I read up on all the candidates and vote and generally disregard party in the local elections. I'm from a blue state with a long held tradition of electing either party to office.  I voted for Castle in every election. But this year has me hesitating. Does voting for an R for a statewide office feed the beast? Does it validate the overall GOP platform?

There's one particular guy I'm looking at who is running for the state senate as a Republican. He seems like a great candidate. I hesitate for a couple reasons.

1. His platform is light based on what I can find.  But it seems to be old school east coast Republican - he says he's socially liberal/fiscally conservative. Which isn't 100% my cup of tea (other than my H) but it's fine and it's the norm here. I would like to see a written assurance on the socially liberal details.

2. I asked another - rather outspoken - Democrat who knows the R candidate and who is running for statewide office this year about him.  He said guy #1 is great guy and guy #2 asked guy #1 why he ran as a R.  The response was that the people encouraging him to run originally were Republicans.

3.  This guy is the total political package and I can see him quickly climbing the ranks.  Which in theory is great, he could be a key factor in rebuilding a centrist GOP.

I guess this boils down to is this the year I vote straight ticket D as a message that I won't vote for a vile platform?  Or do I stick with my old strategy of voting the person and their believes in the hopes of helping to rebuild a decent Republican pipeline.

How are you all evaluating state and local elections this year?

[underwaterrhymes]

I vote straight ticket Democrat.

I don't do it to send a message, though. I do it because I skew heavily liberal and until a Republican runs openly supporting a woman's right to choose, gay marriage, and gun control, I'm not going to vote for one.

[eclaires]

I won't be voting for any Rs in the general but they will all win here regardless. If there was a standout who possibly broke with the party platform I might consider it and would definitely vote for him or her in the R primary (I vote in R primaries). As far as I know, though, there are none like that and since all of them will win anyway, I haven't bothered to look to closely. I need to look at our primary ballot though.

[debatethis]

Ordinarily I am totally fine with centrist/right candidates in more local and state elections. I used to be a registered Republican. This year? These yokels, at all levels of state, local, and federal government, need an ass-whuppin. Their party platform isn't just different, it is feeding extremist violence against virtually everyone except old white dudes. They deserve to lose, and lose big, until that wrong is righted. I tend to believe the local-er races are what has fed the beast, so to speak, on the national level. More extremism has been growing in pockets all over the US and the GOP has kind of rolled its collective eyes and dismissed it as "small factions" and "not what the group collectively stands for" for so long that their extremist factions have become the masses. Shut them all down at every level and maybe we have a chance of restoring normalcy again.

[bowies]

I tend to vote Democratic because I want to build a bench for more high profile elected positions, but I do look into their stances. The city I live in has had a weird track record of attracting some real nutters for mayor. Our current mayor is pretty obviously aligned with Republicans (they don't run based on party affiliation) but he's done a good job so I vote for him.

I've realized over the past few years that while I identify as a Democrat, I don't want to be complicit and elect "bad" ones (Trumps of the left). If a Republican comes along that is committed to compromise/governance and voices socially liberal or moderate stances, then (s)he can earn my vote. I feel it's in my best interest to help them build a better bench too and not the same old evangelical conservatives. I'm done with those assholes.

ETA: We have some school board elections here this year that I need to read up on (again, not party affiliated) but I think the only other local race may be for our Congressman. The R will easily win unfortunately but I'll be voting for the D.

[StrawberryBlondie]

I will be voting exclusively D this year.

I mean, I usually do anyway, so it's not like this is a huge change.

[eponinepontmercy]

Which guy are you talking about?

I like the Dem candidates, thought.

Did you see that Cory Booker endorsed Eugene Young? I've been torn between him and the Riverfront guy, but that might tilt me over.

[OscarQ]

Jul 23, 2016 18:45:00 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

Which guy are you talking about?

I like the Dem candidates, thought.

Did you see that Cory Booker endorsed Eugene Young? I've been torn between him and the Riverfront guy, but that might tilt me over.

Spadola.  www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/2016/01/06/newark-cop-challenge-mcdowell-state-senate/78352076/

So funny enough a friend who is very involved in local politics sent me a message slamming Young yesterday.  I figured he'd get Booker's endorsement since he worked for him.  I'm fine with him although I am supporting the RDC guy.  Really, anybody but Kelly and Williams.  Kelly gives me douchechills and my sister will never let it die that he marched in the St. Paddy's Day parade in his boxers.  Recently.

I'm skeptical about the email from my friend but digging for more info.  If it's valid, I'll share.  Not sure if you're on Next Door but there's a lengthy discussion there that started off an informal poll.  It's in the Highlands ND group which is not my group but we border it.  You can find me as the person cautioning everyone to take the recent polls with a grain of salt because the methods they use are so slanted.  SaveSave