General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEarly voters, fess up: How many Republicans did you have to vote for?
I voted for only one: Ben Wolfinger, our county's sheriff. He earned my vote for two reasons:
One, he's been a decent sheriff.
and
Two, this is the Democratic candidate:
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the Democratic candidate for sheriff in my county is a sovereign citizen who built her own working Gatling gun, has never worn a badge in her life, is squatting in her foreclosed home, and promises to not allow her deputies to enforce any law she doesn't like if we're stupid enough to elect her. She's more of a catastrophe than Donald Trump, and that takes work.
teach1st
(5,935 posts)Like you, my Republican is sheriff and is running unopposed for re-election. As far as I can tell, he's doing a good job.
I went straight Dem, other than that.
The Wielding Truth
(11,415 posts)You don't have to vote for a creep.
teach1st
(5,935 posts)He's doing a good job.
I've always felt that the best place for decent Republicans is in local offices. They don't do so well on the state and national scenes.
The Wielding Truth
(11,415 posts)was the Republican. She certainly doesn't seem like a Democrat with her crazy views.
Why is she running as a Democrat and how did she get the support? I don't get it?
jmowreader
(50,563 posts)Ben Wolfinger's a Republican, and he has a LOT of support in this county. Any Republican who runs against him as a Republican is bound to lose, and lose badly (in the primary, Wolfinger won by 22 points). But if you run against him as a Democrat there's a good chance you'll make the general election ballot. FWIW, the county Democratic Party recommended not voting for her.
The Wielding Truth
(11,415 posts)not a creep, but supports a party that is misogynist, homophobic, xenophobic, pro-torture, anti-worker, anti-science, etc
teach1st
(5,935 posts)The man not perfect in his job, but overall he is running a good department. There are fewer complaints about racism and violence than many large police departments. He is active in supporting homeless causes. I believe he will do a better job than Bugs Bunny or Mickey Mouse or whomever I might write in.
I support Democrats even though some in the party might currently lean toward corporatism and be too cozy with the banks, and even though some are too militaristic, etc. Like many Democrats, I believe in cooperation, reaching across the aisle as it were, with reasonable people from the opposition. I don't apologize for supporting a reasonable Republican for a local office even though I don't support his party.
Skittles
(153,193 posts)I don't think a person can be reasonable and support the republican party as it is now
it is sickening
teach1st
(5,935 posts)Nevertheless, I know many decent people who are Republicans. Go figure. I voted for the person, not the party.
Skittles
(153,193 posts)it's not like republicans recently became disgusting; they have been sickening for a long, LONG time
Wounded Bear
(58,719 posts)we're an 'open voting, top two' primary state. At least it was a fairly minor position at county level, IIRC.
iemitsu
(3,888 posts)republican candidates for State Treasurer for that same reason. No dem on the ballot.
My first inclination was to not vote for either then I decided that there are degrees of bad and I'd better try to get the less bad in office.
Solly Mack
(90,787 posts)Clear lines. Clear choices.
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,858 posts)I have voted for some Republicans in past elections, though. There's been some nutty Democrats a few times.
RandySF
(59,264 posts)And living in CA, most of the races were Dem vs. Dem.
Greybnk48
(10,176 posts)I left the unopposed Repukes blank.
jmowreader
(50,563 posts)And really, if the Holy Terror wasn't on the ballot I would have left the sheriff race blank too. I did last time, and it worked out okay.
relayerbob
(6,558 posts)In the cases where they were the only ones on the ballot (a lot in GA), I didn't vote
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)A sovereign citizen Democrat???
jmowreader
(50,563 posts)In this county, somewhere between half and two-thirds of the races have no Democratic challenger. There aren't a hell of a lot of us here, and just about every Democrat that runs for office, gets stomped. (Right now there is one elected Democrat in the whole county - Dan English, who's held quite a few different offices and is now on the Coeur d'Alene City Council. REALLY nice guy.) So, she figured if she ran for office as a Democrat she'd appeal to the American Redoubt (the term for the right-wing Californians who ran to Idaho to await the end of the world) folks and get swept into office. Which is a nice theory with one tiny flaw: the center of mass of the Redoubt is not in this county.
Skittles
(153,193 posts)rusty quoin
(6,133 posts)jmowreader
(50,563 posts)rusty quoin
(6,133 posts)If a democratic shoots up shit and says nothing, it betters her chances.
Rhythm
(5,435 posts)He's running for county clerk.
Even if he had a million years' experience (which he doesn't), i could not care less...
I don't like him. Never have.
bhikkhu
(10,724 posts)Generally I don't vote for positions or people I don't know, but the last two elections it has been straight party line. That does leave many blanks in the ballot in my area, as many repugs run unopposed
G_j
(40,372 posts)Demonaut
(8,927 posts)ecstatic
(32,733 posts)I didn't do my homework on them and had to decide whether to leave it blank or not. I chose the libertarian.
Awsi Dooger
(14,565 posts)I research carefully, including the justices and non-partisan races. No Republicans. This time I left the mayoral race blank because it was two Republicans facing off.
One good tip is to look for local voting guides from Unions, Democratic Party, Teachers Associations, Women's Groups, etc. Sometimes I'm not clear on ballot measures and which side is the liberal position, given all the mumbo jumbo wording.
Skittles
(153,193 posts)no WAY
Retrograde
(10,159 posts)and both the candidates to replace Barbara Boxer as senator are Democratic women.
ffr
(22,672 posts)KentuckyWoman
(6,695 posts)I voted one Republican.... County Recorder. It was a choice, not a requirement. Normally I would skip the vote for an office with no palatable Democrat, but this had a rather awful human being running 3rd party against and stirring up a little support. I was taking no chances.
But it was a choice I made. I didn't have to cast that vote. Not a good option available really, but option all the same.
LeftyMom
(49,212 posts)The Dem in my congressional district is corrupt and I'd be delighted to see him primaried, but the R running against him makes the top of their ticket look moderate and restrained, so that wasn't even a hard choice.
safeinOhio
(32,727 posts)and one of the greatest men I have ever known, war hero and professor emeritus, born in the deep South, use to say "I'm a Democrat and have been all of my life, I vote for em or against em". Not sure if he ever did the latter.
tirebiter
(2,539 posts)Hey, no bashing Democrats
pfitz59
(10,391 posts)Weird 1-2 primary outcome. Some races have Dem vs Dem.....
Sunsky
(1,737 posts)Even the judges I said no to
Victor_c3
(3,557 posts)I went democrat across the board with the exception of my state assemblyman. He was one of the republicans that voted for the acceptance of gay marriage in New York in 2012 and, in his justification for his vote, he won me over with his words. He stood up against the wishes of his party and did what was right in accordance to his values of respecting all people.
If it wouldn't have been for him and another republican who voted opposite of his party's wishes New York would not have legalized gay marriage when it did.
I wouldn't even think about voting republican otherwise, but he earned my vote. Unfortunately he lost in a three-way election against a democrat and another republican.
This election I might vote for another republican. He is another local politician and I have worked with him on a couple of occasions on local town projects. Currently we are trying to update a very antiquated playground at my children's elementary school and he has been instrumental in securing a $100,000 grant to do that. After working with him and having seen him work for my community it will be hard for me to vote against him.
I know I won't be popular on this forum for saying this, but not all republicans are the same. Some are decent people with a consciences who are trying to do the best for their communities. These are the sorts that can reach across the isle and work with their opposition to accomplish stuff in government. Politicians like this need to be rewarded with our votes or we are going to get more hardliners on both sides who will never be willing to negotiate and improve our nation.
blogslut
(38,018 posts)I now vote straight Democratic ticket. Sadly, I live in an area where most of the State/Federal GOP candidates run unopposed.