Are some republican candidates running away from their party?

[PatSeg]

I get ads in my Facebook feed for some state politicians. I usually check them out and read the comments. Today I saw one for Melissa Blasek, "State Rep, fighting to empower parents to raise their children as they see fit. Strong parental rights create strong families." It didn't say anything else and she didn't elude to her party in the comments.

So I went to her site, "Melissa Blasek for State Rep", https://melissa4merrimack.com/#join

I couldn't find the word "republican" anywhere. I even did a search for the word and nothing.

I went back to her Facebook post and finally someone asked her if she was a Democrat or a republican and only then did she admit it.

Of course I just had to say something, so I posted: 'I can't find the word "republican" on your site. Are you trying to not be associated with the republican party?'


So I am wondering, are there other republicans who are trying to disassociate themselves from the republican party? This is the first time I've noticed it, but I wasn't really looking for it.

[Aristus]

1. It's happened several times since around 2008 or so.

When the GOP gets too extreme or Democratic candidates become generally popular, Republican candidates start to leave the -R- off their campaign materials.

They think we won’t know they’re in the crazy party. Which puts them in the stupid party, as well.

[PatSeg]

6. Yeah, then they say something and leave no doubt.

I generally look for certain buzz words or phrases that give them away. "Liberty, constitution, taxes, and limited government" are pretty good guarantees that you're dealing with a republican.

Yes, they are definitely pretty naïve if they think people won't notice they are republicans. It is pretty hard to distance oneself from the crazy/stupid party. Poor choices will haunt you for a very long time.

[brush]

2. That phenomenon is happening in some local elections...

too...candidates not mentioning what party they're affiliated with. I find it disingenous and sneaky. It's usually republicans who do it too.

[PatSeg]

13. And it is dishonest

If you don't want to be seen affiliated with your own party, then run as an Independent, but I guess you could lose votes and financial support that way.

Of course, I understand why some politicians would want to play down the "republican" part of them, being it has become the party of crazy. I think they really believe this is temporary and it will all pass, but I don't see it passing soon. They might want to consider a career change.

[MagickMuffin]

3. In Tarrant County most republicons don't put their party affiliation

This has been the case for the last few elections. No text about the party and no elephants.

Now some will have they are Conservatives but not all of them.

But Beto doesn't have his party affiliation associated with his promo stuff. It isn't even red, white, blue signage. Just plain ol black and white.

[Farmer-Rick]

5. Yeah, here too they frequently don't identify as GOPers

The Dems usually identify themselves, but even they hide their party affiliations frequently.

I would say that in our local general election we just had, about 50% of the candidates running did not have their party affiliations identified. But here in red neck farmland, you can bet most all of them were GOPers anyway.

[dalton99a]

9. +1.

[PatSeg]

15. I didn't realize that about Beto,

but I suppose that is a good idea when running for office in Texas. I did find the word "Democratic" on the first page of his site, but only once: "He founded and currently leads Powered by People, a Texas-based organization that works to expand democracy and produce Democratic victories through voter registration and direct voter engagement."

[MagickMuffin]

17. I will be helping Beto. He has been having good turnouts at his townhall rallies

He's attracting a lot of republicans and some have exclaimed they will be voting for Beto. Curse words and all.


Texas local news stations are trying to project that the curse word will finish his campaign, but I don't believe it will.


We are so very tired of Greg Abbott!

[PatSeg]

25. Good luck!

I don't think the occasional curse word should hurt him. I've heard how a lot of republican voters talk.

I can't imagine Greg Abbott serving another term. These republican governors keep getting worse with every cycle.

[Native]

4. Seeing it here for our local elections in Central Florida. Using words like

strong conservative, proud patriot, etc.

[jimfields33]

11. Representative Val Demming leaves democratic out of her commercials

I don’t see anything wrong with it. Are you best for the job? Yes in her case.

[PatSeg]

16. Yes, I can see that in a Red state

That makes sense. For me, being a Democrat is a positive selling point, but that isn't necessarily the case in a state like Florida. I am just surprised to see any republican candidate disassociating themselves from their party in New Hampshire, but seeing how crazy the party has become, I guess it is understandable.

[BComplex]

7. I've seen some of that in North Carolina even on election flyers.

Pretty trixy if you ask me.

[PatSeg]

18. And who do they think they're fooling?

All you have to do is read the flyers or hear them speak and you know what they are - "The party that shall not be named"!

[Jade Fox]

8. I've seen similar ads with no party mentioned...

and have assumed they were most likely Republicans.

[Wounded Bear]

10. Been happening here for years in WA...

What I really don't like, though, is that they've passed laws that removes the requirement to list party affiliation from advertising, and even on the ballots. Many positions have been deemed "non-partisan" to where listing party affiliation is discouraged.

On the ballot, it may say "prefers Democratic Party" or the same for repubs, but a candidate is not required to list a party.

I don't like it.

[PatSeg]

19. I wouldn't like that either

Party affiliation is important to me and it is one of the first things I look for.

[Wounded Bear]

20. The "bothsider" crowd seems to like the "non-partisan" crap...

I, however, do ascertain distinct difference between the two main parties (and some of the smaller ones, as well) and it weighs on all my voting choices.

[PatSeg]

26. And in this age,

there is no such thing as "non-partisan". The two parties are so dramatically different, I really don't understand the "on the fence" folks. The people who tell pollsters they are "undecided" are either uninformed or more likely, they are lying.

[CrispyQ]

12. My husband is unaffiliated & gets mailers from both parties & I've seen it before, after Bush.

Republicans need to ask her, what is it about the republican brand you don't want to identify with? If you win the election, how are you going to stand up to the Q-anon wing of the party if you can't speak out against them now?

Liz Cheney is trailing Harriet Hageman, who is on tape saying "Joe Biden is the largest or the most destructive human trafficker in our history."

JFC.

[PatSeg]

22. Well I did comment on it

but she hasn't responded yet. I'm going to go back periodically and check the thread. She may be regretting campaigning on Facebook. These threads can get pretty contentious.

There's one republican running for the U.S. Senate named Bruce Fenton. He is a "Cypherpunk Stockerbroker" - he is running on a Cryptocurrency Economy! Seriously! The comments on his posts are really interesting. I mentioned more than once that it appeared he was just promoting his business.

[mopinko]

14. saw it on the ground in 18 in a red county.

not an elephant in sight, but all dem challengers loud and proud.
won big, too. it's a very bad sign for them.

[PatSeg]

23. That is good to hear

I'm going to start to pay more attention and see how many republicans are trying distance themselves from their party. Of course, we still have our fair share of in-your-face Trumpers pushing the same MAGA garbage. I think they may be an endangered species.

[LakeArenal]

21. Attracting low information voters is a thing.

Not all of us read information. Many voters base their decisions on pithy sound bites. Sadly.

[PatSeg]

24. Sadly, that is true

A photo with a nice smile and a couple of bumper-sticker slogans and that's all they need.