Local election question

[Jalapeñomel]

Is it common for candidates to switch parties? We have a person running for DA who lost the last election, when she ran as a republican. She’s now currently running for DA as a democrat.

It’s wild to me you can do this.

[pixy0stix]

I don't know how common it is, but it does happen. From local elections all the way up to Congress.

[Susie]

We see R <--> D less often, but occasionally.  

More frequently we see someone lose a primary in their original party, then see what lines they might be able to snag before the general.  Like we have a D primary on Tuesday for DA in our county.  The winner will get the D line, which is a huge advantage here, but the loser will probably seek to at least snag Working Families party, Conservative Party, etc. lines so they still appear on the ballot in Nov.  If there is no R candidate running, then sure they might try for that too.

[DotAndBuzz]

Most people in my area run as Democrats, because my county is heavily blue, and anyone running as a republican doesn't stand a chance. There may not even be a republican on the ballot for some positions.

But what this means is that primaries are very important. We're electing a new Sheriff this year, and there are 3 main contenders in the Democratic primary. One is very pro deportation and working with ICE. Running as a democrat. You have to be careful and really make sure you know who you're voting for here, so I'm going to say that yes, some people switch and just sign up under a specific party to get votes from people who vote straight party without really looking into individual candidates.

[Jalapeñomel]

Jun 21, 2024 17:49:12 GMT -5 DotAndBuzz said:

Most people in my area run as Democrats, because my county is heavily blue, and anyone running as a republican doesn't stand a chance. There may not even be a republican on the ballot for some positions.

…

, so I'm going to say that yes, some people switch and just sign up under a specific party to get votes from people who vote straight party without really looking into individual candidates.

I’m 100% certain this is the agenda here, as I’m in a fairly blue area as well.

[basilosaurus]

Yes people switch. Some of it is due to local demographic options. Sometimes they truly change. Or they feel their party has changed.

It was pretty big news when a woman in state leg switched from d to r quickly after being elected switching the state from d to r majority. I cynically think she did that intentionally to fuck with d control, and I'm not alone in that.

[curbsideprophet]

At least they are doing it before the election.

Tricia Cotham in NC switched from D to R after she was elected and has given the R in the state house a super majority.

www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/mecklenburg-county/tricia-cotham-now-a-republican-announces-re-election-in-a-new-district/

[basilosaurus]

Jun 22, 2024 12:56:47 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

At least they are doing it before the election.

Tricia Cotham in NC switched from D to R after she was elected and has given the R in the state house a super majority.

www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/mecklenburg-county/tricia-cotham-now-a-republican-announces-re-election-in-a-new-district/

This is who I was thinking of. Yes, it didn't switch the overall majority but gave it a supermajority; is forgotten that part. Even as I was typing I was thinking it wasn't quite right that nc would have been equal but for one person. Thanks for the correction

[mrsukyankee]

I still don't think you should be allowed to switch party after being elected - if you are elected as being in one party, you have to stick with them. Or drop out and have another election at that time.

[basilosaurus]

Jun 23, 2024 10:09:15 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

I still don't think you should be allowed to switch party after being elected - if you are elected as being in one party, you have to stick with them. Or drop out and have another election at that time.

How do you feel about switching to I? Sinema did that. I also think it's state dependent. I looked up a wiki list with that NC woman switched, and there were some interesting tidbits. Justin Amash went R to I after Trump, which I can totally understand and further switched to libertarian. There's one person, can't remember who, that resigned as R, then they had a special election which he won as I. Not every place has special elections, though.

[mrsukyankee]

basilosaurus, I think any change that might impact state politics should be re-held. We've had a bunch of people who have changed party in the UK and I think they should have to stand for re-election here too. It's not fair to those who elected them in good faith (though here, they switched this spring or after the election was called and most will drop out of politics for good).

[basilosaurus]

Jun 23, 2024 10:28:59 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

basilosaurus , I think any change that might impact state politics should be re-held. We've had a bunch of people who have changed party in the UK and I think they should have to stand for re-election here too. It's not fair to those who elected them in good faith (though here, they switched this spring or after the election was called and most will drop out of politics for good).

But, in some states replacements are appointed by the governor. There wouldn't be a special election, and that governor might appoint some extremist who could do a lot of damage before a regular election. I basically agree with you, but because states can be so weird and divided, I don't know if an appointment is a better situation than switching parties. I think they usually, at least if changing to I, tend to caucus with their former party.

[Michelle]

it used to be that people switched parties as the parties' focus no longer aligns with theirs.

I am seeing dozens of democrats getting elected on some promises and then turning Republican. It seems like a very intentional strategy to steal seats across the country.

Don't believe the person's party. Believe what they say about their position on various issues, and if they have been in office, believe their voting records.

See also, our 3 most recent Trump-appointed SCOTUS justices who said they had one position but have since shown their true colors.