There is a lot here I did not know about. He names some Republicans who are changing to Democrats in some red states, and points out some states making progress under the new strategy implemented by Dean.
http://blogs.chron.com/kuffsworld/2006/06/building_from_the_ground_up.htmlHe posts about growing Democrats in Nebraska, which I posted about here before.
He talks a lot about Kansas changing a little.
Let's move now to Kansas, where the latest trend is Republicans switching party to run as Democrats.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-kansas13jun13,1,6259569.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage&ctrack=1&cset=trueMark Parkinson got his start in Republican politics at age 19, as a precinct committeeman. He served six years as a Republican state legislator, eventually becoming state Republican chairman.
But two weeks ago, Parkinson announced he was running for lieutenant governor -- as a Democrat. He said he no longer felt welcome in the increasingly conservative Kansas Republican Party.
Parkinson became the third Republican politician in the last nine months to startle this red state by switching to the minority party. The other two are targeting GOP incumbents in the attorney general's office and in the state House of Representatives.
More about how Democrats, including Gov. Sebellius, are recruiting in Kansas.
Nicole Corcoran, the governor's spokeswoman, said Sebelius had made phone calls and spoken to Democrats and Republicans on the road, encouraging involvement among Kansans "committed to moving our state forward."
"She's talked to a number of folks about running," Corcoran said, "and is pleased to see many of them have answered the call to serve."
House Minority Leader Dennis McKinney, D-Greensburg, credited a team effort with the upswing in the number of Democrats filing for office this year. Both state and local party leaders co-organized recruitment, he said.
This year, the Kansas Democratic Party has candidates running for 100 seats, including 58 seats currently held by Republicans.
http://www.hutchnews.com/news/regional/stories/run061306.shtmlHe goes on to list the Republicans who are changing party there, one a Republican Party chairman.
Former Republicans seeking office as Democrats:
1) Mark Parkinson, former Kansas Republican Party Chairman and Republican legislator, who is running for lt. governor
2) Paul Morrison, current Johnson County district attorney, running for attorney general
3) Steve Lukert, seeking re-election in the 62nd House district
4) Cindy Neighbor, former Republican legislator running to again represent the 18th House district
5) Duane Mathes, current Edwards county commissioner, running in the 117th House district
6) Judy Leyerzapf, current Abilene city commissioner, running in the 68th House District
7)Kent Goyen, running in the 114th House District; and
8)Walt Chappell, running in the 91st House District.
9) Brenton Weeks, running in the 29th House District
I remember in the early 90s our Democrats in Florida starting becoming Republicans....and they became more like them. Well, I hope this works in reverse and that this guys become more like Democrats everyday.
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