Some who support the values of the Democratic Party have recently suggested that an effective strategy in a red county such as Cleveland might be to change one’s party affiliation to “Unaffiliated” or even to “Republican” in order to influence which Republican candidates make it through the primaries to the general election.
This is a BAD idea for numerous reasons:
- Those registered as Republicans can ONLY vote in Republican primaries. The upcoming March 3 Democratic primary includes important elections for US Senate, US Congress, and appellate judge positions that involve multiple candidates. Registered Republicans or Unaffiliated voters who select a Republican primary ballot will not be eligible to participate in the important process of selecting Democratic candidates for the general election.
- Attempting to influence a Republican primary is not an effective way to actualize the goals and values of the Democratic Party. The odds of influencing Republican primary results are extremely low. The best way to achieve the goals of the Democratic Pary is to join the fight on behalf of Democratic candidates. Democratic candidates have a proven winning track record at the state level. There is absolutely no reason Democratic candidates cannot start winning in Cleveland County if we continue our grassroots work to build a stronger Party.
- The strategy of affiliation-switching is a short-term ploy. It is a low-odds gambit to attempt to win one or two seats in one election cycle. Our work to build a strong Party is part of a long-term, multi-pronged movement toward building a better future for our community, election after election.
- Our financial and human resources are limited. Resources spent on Republican candidates deplete resources available to Democratic candidates.
- Voter registration as a Democrat is REQUIRED for full participation in the work of the Democratic Party. Only registered Democrats can vote on business matters at precinct or county Democratic Party meetings. Only registered Democrats are eligible to serve as officers on any level of the Democratic Party. Only registered Democrats are allowed to present themselves as Democratic candidates in elections.
On more than one occasion we have identified stellar candidates for local races who were willing to run for office, only to discover that their party affiliation at the Board of Elections was something other than “Democratic.” The CCDP struggled to obtain the thousands of signatures required to get their names on the election ballot. The party affiliation indicated on your voter registration matters!
- If most of the values and goals of the Democratic Party align with yours, it makes sense to support the Party’s candidates and endeavors as fully as you can. Republicans have taken steps to rig our electoral system. Better to work to get back to a fairer system than to try to “game” a rigged system for short-term advantage. The agendas of the Republican Party and the Democratic Party are vastly different. Every time you vote, you vote for more than the individuals on the ballot. You vote for one of two conflicting agendas. You vote for one of two competing sets of values. If you prefer Democratic values to Republican values, VOTE BLUE!