Have any prominent Republicans jumped ship in your state?
Last edited Tue Oct 23, 2018, 10:10 PM - Edit history (1)
Only 2 that have gone public here (that I've heard about) but it makes you wonder what others will do in the privacy of the voting booth.
Last week former Minnesota governor, Arne Carlson, went public endorsing the DFL candidate in the 3rd District Congressional race over the incumbent Republican.
https://www.phillipsforcongress.org/arne-carlson/
Randy Johnson who was the Hennepin County Commissioner for the southern Minneapolis suburbs for 38 years (running unopposed many years, he was/is a sane Republican) wrote a letter to the Star Tribune announcing that, for the first time in his life, he'd be voting a straight DFL ticket.
His letter is beautiful:
http://www.startribune.com/readers-write-2018-election-voting-philosophies-commentaries-by-john-howe-julie-rosen-jason-lewis/497625741/
In the Nov. 6 election, I will do something for the first time in 50 years. I will be voting a straight DFL ballot.
After almost four decades as a Republican Hennepin County commissioner, 50-plus years as a Republican activist, and having probably chaired more Republican conventions than anyone in the state, let me say it simply: President Donald Trump is unhinged, and some of us who have been Republicans have to say it loud and clear.
Trump has hijacked the Republican label. Trump has little to do with the principles and standards of the Minnesota Republican Party over many years.
Unfortunately, almost all Minnesota and statewide and congressional Republican candidates have fallen under the dangling talisman of Trump.
The DFL U.S. Senate candidates are clearly more qualified than the Republican challengers.
My colleague Jeff Johnson, when we were Hennepin County commissioners, was always intently honorable, and I greatly respect him personally, but his vision on Minnesota’s long-term issues (especially health care) is too limited and just plain wrong.
The balance of the Republican statewide ticket (with the possible exception of state auditor) is mediocre at best.
The most difficult election decision for me is my congressman. I really like Erik Paulsen personally. He is not quite the moderate like his predecessors Bill Frenzel and Jim Ramstad, but he is somewhat close. And Paulsen is obviously uncomfortable with Trump and Trump’s behavior. Paulsen is in a near-impossible position: If he speaks out too much against Trump, he loses the Trumpies, and without the Trumpies, he cannot win.
Much as I like Erik, it is time for change, and Dean Phillips fits the district well enough for fiscally conservative, pro-business moderate Republicans to support him. The attacks on Phillips during his leadership at Allina are just plain bizarre.
A first for me — a straight DFL ballot.
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