Republican Candidates explain why they switched

[Jon8503]

By STEVE KRASKE
The Kansas City Star
Ending lifelong allegiances to the Republican Party in Kansas was no simple matter.

“I didn’t sleep well that night,” said Kent Goyen of Pratt, who’s running for the 114th District seat.

But each of the party jumpers had a common tonic — visits with Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, either in person or by telephone.

Those talks eased the way for several new Democrats.

“She said we are all Kansans,” said Judy Leyerzapf of Abilene. “I think that’s a great answer. We’re all about the same thing, really.”

Whether the state is seeing the beginning of a trend that features a more robust Democratic Party and a Kansas GOP shorn of its moderate base remains to be seen.

In other words, some of the new Democrats have to win in November if the party jumping is to continue.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/14991794.htm

(Will be interesting to see how this all works out- they are certainly going to take some of their republican traits & beliefs with them, you don't just 100% change overnight).

[beyurslf]

1. Sebelius' Lt Gov pick is a former Republican Party Chairman in the state.

Everyone seems to love that he switched over to us. But, he said he didn't change any of his beliefs--just the Repub party in KS got more extreme. It's true they got more extreme, but that doesn't make him a Democrat to me. He just smelled the opportunity to have a high profile and wants to be Gov someday.

[Jon8503]

2. That is what I am wondering how this is all going to work out. I know

that when you have beliefs and values that you have carried with you most of your life, it is rather difficult to just turn them off.

It appears one thing that could happen is that the republican party could move more toward the left and the democratic party could move more to wards the right or who knows what else could happen. Regardless, it will be interesting to watch.

[Big Unit]

3. Becoming a Majority Party is a Good Thing

I operate from the premise that wresting control of the statehouse from the Republican Party is a good thing. The converts to the Democratic Party who are running for public office (nine altogether I believe) hopefully are the tip of the iceberg with many more voters also changing from Republican to Ind. or Democrat. If we are going to become the majority party I don't think we should be critical of the candidates who have made this change. We should be watchful of course - the proof is in the pudding - but I don't think it is constructive to automatically assume that there is anything ingenuine about Parkinson's decision or Morrison's decision, or the other statehouse candidate converts. I hope we are witnessing a major realignment of public opinion and public sentiment that the Democratic Party is now doing a better job of representing the real concerns of Kansas families and small businesses. Time indeed will tell - this November for example.