Rep. Van drew switches parties from Democratic to Republican

[Oryx]

@Mountain_Soldier

That was the general sentiment at the time. He was well-received within the democrat circles.

I’m sure he was well received by Democratic politicians since he increased their power.

[Adam]

@Camp

Since you mentioned it. From today’s Pittsburgh paper.

“This isn’t your parents’ Democratic Party. It’s not yours,” the ad concludes, “and it’s time to think about what that means.”

To the local GOP, it means labeling the leftward shift in the Democratic Party a deal-breaker for everyday Americans and asking them to cross party lines.

As of Dec. 8, about 3,500 Democrats had switched their registrations to Republican this year in Allegheny County, boosting the GOP’s voter rolls to about 264,000 registered voters. There remains more than 550,000 Democrats here, as they, too, got more than 3,000 to cross over.

Mr. Peduto, whose statement in October opposing any additional petrochemical facilities in Western Pennsylvania was quoted in the advertisement, said that as Pittsburghers and Democrats, “we have a history and deeply held values in fighting for working people as well as protecting the air we breathe and the water we drink.”

“Donald Trump and the Republican Party are out of step with those values,” Mr. Peduto added. “No amount of name-calling will cover that up.”

Deeming Democrats beholden to the “socialist” wing of their party has been a familiar line of attack from Donald Trump. In an address to the Economic Club of New York in November, he accused Democrats of having a “radical agenda of socialism” that would destroy and over-regulate the economy, bankrupting America.

“As long as I’m President, America will never be a socialist country,” Mr. Trump said.

'This isn’t your parents' Democratic Party': Pending Allegheny County GOP ad hits Dems on liberal policies | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A net gain of 500 R switches in a blue stronghold of a swing state?

This is a very good signal.

Thank you. I appreciate facts. That plus 500 is statistically insignificant by the way. Are there any numbers on new voters? People turning 18 and people moving to/from the county?

[SottoVoce]

Not surprising based on voting history.

100% NRA rating
Voted against control legislation after Sandy Hook (only Democrat to vote against)
Voted against same-sex marriage as a NJ state senator
Voted against raising state minimum wage as a NJ state senator
Supports removing environmental regulations and allowing increased pipeline placement

Seems like this was more of a means of improving his chances of re-election, based on his district. I guess that’s what it’s always about.

[biggestal99]

@SottoVoce

Seems like this was more of a means of improving his chances of re-election, based on his district. I guess that’s what it’s always about

Improved lol 100% gauranteed to win now.

Allan

[SottoVoce]

@biggestal99

@SottoVoce

Seems like this was more of a means of improving his chances of re-election, based on his district. I guess that’s what it’s always about

Improved lol 100% gauranteed to win now.

Allan

Maybe. He won by less than initially expected last election, his district voted for Trump in 2016, and his constituents do not approve of the impeachment (just barely). Seems like his district consistently flips between Democrat and Republican.

[RTchoke]

Here’s another one. He’s switching to Independent and caucusing with the Reps.

Pennsylvania lawmaker switches from Democrat to independent

This was last month but it shows that some of them are re-thinking where they stand.

Not sure I agree with the switching mid-way through either, but it is what it is.

[W_and_C]

Collective IQ of both parties just went up

[Yossarian]

@SottoVoce

@biggestal99

@SottoVoce

Seems like this was more of a means of improving his chances of re-election, based on his district. I guess that’s what it’s always about

Improved lol 100% gauranteed to win now.

Allan

Maybe. He won by less than initially expected last election, his district voted for Trump in 2016, and his constituents do not approve of the impeachment (just barely). Seems like his district consistently flips between Democrat and Republican.

Im sure they loved losing the SALT deductions when they did their taxes last year.

[WuWei]

@Oryx

@DougBH

He should have remained with the Democrat caucus. I mean, a vote on speaker isn’t going to recur before the next election anyway, so he wouldn’t be tested. And then he should have run as a Republican.
It wouldn’t make much real difference but it would look better, IMO.

Agreed, it’s unethical for any politician to switch parties mid-term. If you want to do it, you should get elected with your new party first.

Party before principles?

[markdido]

Let’s not forget old Jumpin’ Jim Jeffords.

Jeffords served in the Senate from 1989 until 2007, winning reelection in 1994 and 2000. In 2001, he made national headlines when he left the Republican Party to become an independent, and began to caucus with the Senate’s Democrats. His switch changed control of the Senate from Republican to Democratic, the first time a switch had ever changed party control. During his Senate career,

[RTchoke]

@markdido

Let’s not forget old Jumpin’ Jim Jeffords.

Jeffords served in the Senate from 1989 until 2007, winning reelection in 1994 and 2000. In 2001, he made national headlines when he left the Republican Party to become an independent, and began to caucus with the Senate’s Democrats. His switch changed control of the Senate from Republican to Democratic, the first time a switch had ever changed party control. During his Senate career,

Perfect example of why I don’t think you should be doing it midway through a term. I get wanting to switch if your agenda no longer fits your current party’s narrative, but just vote against your party in regards to bills etc.

[Chris]

@Camp

Since you mentioned it. From today’s Pittsburgh paper.

“This isn’t your parents’ Democratic Party. It’s not yours,” the ad concludes, “and it’s time to think about what that means.”

To the local GOP, it means labeling the leftward shift in the Democratic Party a deal-breaker for everyday Americans and asking them to cross party lines.

As of Dec. 8, about 3,500 Democrats had switched their registrations to Republican this year in Allegheny County, boosting the GOP’s voter rolls to about 264,000 registered voters. There remains more than 550,000 Democrats here, as they, too, got more than 3,000 to cross over.

Mr. Peduto, whose statement in October opposing any additional petrochemical facilities in Western Pennsylvania was quoted in the advertisement, said that as Pittsburghers and Democrats, “we have a history and deeply held values in fighting for working people as well as protecting the air we breathe and the water we drink.”

“Donald Trump and the Republican Party are out of step with those values,” Mr. Peduto added. “No amount of name-calling will cover that up.”

Deeming Democrats beholden to the “socialist” wing of their party has been a familiar line of attack from Donald Trump. In an address to the Economic Club of New York in November, he accused Democrats of having a “radical agenda of socialism” that would destroy and over-regulate the economy, bankrupting America.

“As long as I’m President, America will never be a socialist country,” Mr. Trump said.

'This isn’t your parents' Democratic Party': Pending Allegheny County GOP ad hits Dems on liberal policies | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A net gain of 500 R switches in a blue stronghold of a swing state?

This is a very good signal.

Allegheny County looks like it has been moving more Democratic-leaning over the last several years.

Allegheny County:

2012 - Casey – +20.6%
2012 - Obama - +14.53%
2016 - Clinton - +16.46%
2018 - Casey – +33.15%

https://uselectionatlas.org/

[biggestal99]

[quote=“SottoVoce, post:25, topic:223462”]
Seems like his district consistently flips between Democrat and Republican
[/quote].

Nah . It’s trumpland. The reason he was opposing SALT which his opponent wrote into law.

Van traitor will win for sure.

Allan

[biggestal99]

@WuWei

Party before principles?

So what about jumping Jim jeffords.

You should have heard the r,s howling on that one.

It cuts both ways.

Allan

[janer]

Very familiar with Van Drew’s district.
He has been in political office for many years, and it was predicted that he’d go for LoBiondo’s congressional seat because LoBiondo did nothing to cultivate Republican successors in the area, and Van Drew was the most known commodity in the area’s political landscape, and one who understood that he was in a pretty conservative district and could only win by positioning himself as a conservative democrat.

Then a few things happened: at the November 5th election, the two candidates he’d been cultivating - one for assembly, one for NJ state senate - both lost. In fact, every seat in the district went R. Then it’s been rumored that he may get a democrat primary challenge in '20. Meanwhile, the Republican party has been trying to cultivate a few candidates to mount a challenge for the congressional seat, but nobody’s emerging from the pack. Van Drew probably thinks that his name recognition gives him a better chance of defeating a Republican in the primary than winning a primary challenge in his own party. Despite the fact that cable media has been showcasing him as a conservative, the switch - if it is true that he’s switching - has more to do with political expedience than principle, IMHO. It will certainly get him a lot more of those cable news interviews he’s been doing lately.

[Guvnah]

@biggestal99

freshmen lawmaker from the South Jersey

Reminds me of JN 1:46.

[Guvnah]

@Oryx

People vote for parties, not people.

… speaking for yourself, of course…

[DOLOOP]

Good news.

[CanadianJudo]

I will laugh if he loses re-election.

[zonulet]

@Camp

I like the timing.

The D have sunk to new lows.

The power of Trump compels.
It’s like pouring salt into their wounds.