Block voting is a waste of time

Are you a Democrat who’s thinking of voting in the Republican primary?
Think again.

It’s been said many times, but Texas is a non-voting state. When you consider that there are more non-voters who lean Democrat and combine them with actual Democratic voters, Republicans are a minority who’ve had an exclusive grip on political power in this state for nearly two decades.  
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How does this minority rule persist? By dividing the majority against itself. This happens when Democratic-leaning voters cross over to vote in the Republican primary. You’ve no doubt heard many people talk about doing this.

Here are four reasons why you should absolutely vote in the Democratic Primary.

1. Unicorns and Moderate Republicans

In an attempt to nominate a “less-worse” Republican, also called  “block voting”, Democratic voters will cross over and vote for the more moderate Republican in the primary. By doing this, however,  voters simply reinforce the perpetual grip of the far right. Look no further than far-right Tea Party members who have driven out moderate Republicans like Joe Straus and made Dan Patrick the most powerful politician in the state.

I desperately want two robust, sane political parties in Texas, but the Republican Party will never come back to sanity until they are more afraid to lose general elections to Democrats than they are of losing a Republican primary to a nutter. Why? Because the Republican Party in Texas will push even moderates rightward in order to win the Republican Primary.
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Moderate Republicans are still going to vote with Republicans.
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2. “But I won’t vote Republican in November…”

Some people rationalize their crossover vote in the Republican primary by saying they will vote for the Democrat in the November general election. But by then, it’s too late because crossing over to vote in the Republican primary makes it HARDER for Democrats to effectively compete in the general election.

That is because the best way to measure interest in an election is how many people vote in it. And interest drives momentum, which drives fundraising.  “Block voting” artificially inflates Republican voting numbers, making it difficult for the Democratic nominee to build momentum and raise money.  

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3. Momentum Matters
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A strong turnout in the Texas Democratic Primary on March 6th is essential to winning in November.  A big showing in the primary will signal that this year really is different and that the #bluewave is building in Texas.  Political science professor, Cal Jillson recently told the Houston Chronicle: “What the turnout looks like in the Texas primary will tell a lot about what lies ahead for Republicans and Democrats in 2018.”

What happens in March will set the narrative for Texas politics in 2018. The press and pundits are watching to see if the Blue Wave materializes.

This year is our best chance in a generation to elect more Democrats. There are great Democratic candidates up and down the ballot.  And for the first time in 25 years, there are Democrats running in every single Congressional race in Texas, and nearly all of the Texas legislative races. 

4. Open Primary Rules
Remember—an open primary in Texas means you cannot choose to vote for some Democrats and some some Republicans. You have to choose only the Democratic OR the Republican primary ballot.  So crossing over to vote against Dan Patrick in the Republican primary will hurt all Democrats running in the many fiercely contested Democratic primary races.

If y’all really want to beat Dan Patrick and the rest of the Trump fan club in Texas, vote in the Texas Democratic Primary on March 6th to #buildthewave. And tell Independents and moderate Republicans fed up with their party to vote in the Democratic Primary, too. 
That is how we bring political competition and SANITY back to the Lone Star State. 

Now, sign up to block walk or join our next meeting on Feb 4 at 2pm at Mandola’s!

Carrie Collier-Brown
President, Blue Action Democrats

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