EDITORIAL: Reasons for changing parties matter

Apr. 23—Voters should perceive the explanations behind politicians altering events earlier than heading to the polls — so we requested them.

Some voters decide their consultant based mostly solely on political affiliation despite the fact that a extra certified candidate could be operating beneath an opposing celebration. We might urge these voters to no less than get to know the positions of all of the candidates earlier than making a call — though it might doubtless lead them again to the candidate of their most popular celebration in any case.

Voters should take our obligation, our duty, our energy in deciding who represents us in authorities severely as an alternative of simply going into election day with none information of the candidates apart from the letter beside their names.

Pittsburg County voters will select representatives in a number of native places of work — with all the races to be determined within the upcoming Republican primaries or a runoff.

With all of the candidates operating as Republicans, voters nonetheless must know the place the candidates stand on points.

The Information-Capital is finalizing plans for a candidate discussion board forward of the first and can proceed protection with Q&As, tales and extra.

Final weekend, we revealed a narrative with the solutions from 4 Pittsburg County elected officers answering why they switched their political celebration affiliations from Democrat to Republican.

Some on Fb questioned why it mattered— questioning if altering political celebration affiliation adjustments the individual and saying candidates ought to be “for the individuals” no matter their celebration.

We agree that every one candidates ought to put the individuals over celebration affiliation. But it surely’s vital to ask candidates why they switched events to see how or in the event that they modified positions on points that matter to us.

Pittsburg County voters additionally switched events lately.

Registered Democrats practically quadrupled the variety of Republican in Pittsburg County in 2010 — however registered Republicans overtook Democrats within the county for the primary time in 2020.

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What was then a slim margin widened this yr with 12,228 registered Republican and 9,865 Democrats.

Some county officers that switched events echoed causes voters gave once we reported on the large celebration swap.

District 1 County Commissioner Charlie Rogers mentioned he modified as a result of he wasn’t a supporter of Democratic President Joe Biden, plus “neither celebration is what they was once” and voters can vote by the straight celebration system with out having to verify the field in every particular person race.

District 3 Commissioner Ross Selman, who faces three Republican challengers, mentioned he was prepared to vary after being a lifelong Democrat as a result of the celebration “drifted away.”

“Primary, I am towards abortion. Quantity 2, I am towards gun management,” he advised us.

Pittsburg County Assessor Michelle Fields, mentioned she modified her political celebration affiliation to Republican “as a result of I used to be not agreeing with the Democrats on the time.”

Pittsburg County Treasurer Jennifer Hackler mentioned she “determined to observe go well with with the vast majority of voters within the county” and she or he wished to have the ability to vote in races that will be determined in primaries.

So whereas altering events does not at all times imply an individual has modified, it is nonetheless vital for voters to grasp causes behind a candidate making the swap.

And we are going to hold asking these questions to assist voters change into extra knowledgeable about candidates.

McAlester Information-Capital Editorial Board