Question: Can Democrats consider recruiting stealth candidates who run as Republicans or Independents in critical, selected deep-Red races (where Democrats would have no chance) – and who, after winning, switch parties or vote with Democrats?
Background: Republicans have run and elected "Democratic" candidates that later proved to be Trojan horses. Amongst them are Tricia Cotham, the North Carolina State Representative who infamously switched parties, giving Republicans veto-proof control in both chambers of the legislature. That was a huge setback for Governor Roy Cooper, and it allowed Republican legislators to force through a series of hardline policies on abortion rights, health care, public education, gun safety and civil rights – all of them issues on which Cotham had previously stated positions that were diametrically opposed to what she was now voting for.
Democrats should do this at a large scale - both for Congress and for state legislatures, the latter especially in years ending in zero (i.e. just before redistricting). Imagine if we could elect a whole bunch of fake Republicans who would then switch parties and give Democrats majorities just in time for them to draw and pass Democratic gerrymanders.
We should definitely try to do this. And getting the closet Dems through Republican primaries shouldn't be too difficult, since we know very well what Republican primary voters are looking for in their candidates.
"And getting the closet Dems through Republican primaries shouldn't be too difficult, since we know very well what Republican primary voters are looking for in their candidates"
Eh . .this is much easier said than done. Especially in more rural districts, people know each other and are suspicious of folks who seemingly sweep in from nowhere. Where it could potentially work is fast growing exhurban counties, but the world of GOP politics is often very insular in general. I'm not saying don't try, but I wouldn't have hope of it having much success.
Question: Can Democrats consider recruiting stealth candidates who run as Republicans or Independents in critical, selected deep-Red races (where Democrats would have no chance) – and who, after winning, switch parties or vote with Democrats?
Background: Republicans have run and elected "Democratic" candidates that later proved to be Trojan horses. Amongst them are Tricia Cotham, the North Carolina State Representative who infamously switched parties, giving Republicans veto-proof control in both chambers of the legislature. That was a huge setback for Governor Roy Cooper, and it allowed Republican legislators to force through a series of hardline policies on abortion rights, health care, public education, gun safety and civil rights – all of them issues on which Cotham had previously stated positions that were diametrically opposed to what she was now voting for.
Democrats should do this at a large scale - both for Congress and for state legislatures, the latter especially in years ending in zero (i.e. just before redistricting). Imagine if we could elect a whole bunch of fake Republicans who would then switch parties and give Democrats majorities just in time for them to draw and pass Democratic gerrymanders.
We should definitely try to do this. And getting the closet Dems through Republican primaries shouldn't be too difficult, since we know very well what Republican primary voters are looking for in their candidates.
"And getting the closet Dems through Republican primaries shouldn't be too difficult, since we know very well what Republican primary voters are looking for in their candidates"
Eh . .this is much easier said than done. Especially in more rural districts, people know each other and are suspicious of folks who seemingly sweep in from nowhere. Where it could potentially work is fast growing exhurban counties, but the world of GOP politics is often very insular in general. I'm not saying don't try, but I wouldn't have hope of it having much success.