A prominent Democratic figure within the West Virginia legislature has expressed his intention to change his party affiliation and pursue candidacy for the position of secretary of state in the next year of 2019.
Doug Skaff has formally declared his intention to run for office by registering as a pre-candidate. In a statement, Skaff expressed “In today’s ever-changing world I will bring a deep understanding of our laws, demonstrate strong leadership abilities, and uphold and promote fairness, transparency, and integrity in all aspects of the office. I’ve had enough.”
Campaigns are permitted to commence soliciting funds and submitting campaign finance reports subsequent to the completion of their pre-candidacy documentation. A candidate is not deemed a valid competitor unless they have submitted a distinct certificate of announcement and fulfilled the requirement of paying the filing fee. The month of January has been designated as the official registration period for the 2024 election.
According to a report by Fox News, Skaff stepped down from his position as the Democratic leader in August, and subsequently vacated his House seat representing Kanawha County last month.
Elgine McArdle, the chairwoman of the West Virginia Republican Party, exhibited a degree of skepticism towards Skaff’s assertion.
In a statement, McCardle acknowledged that “The West Virginia Republican Party recognizes the philosophical nuances that can exist within the Party and welcomes those who genuinely believe in our cause; however, Republican voters are sometimes tasked with differentiating between ‘philosophical nuances’ and ‘diametric ideological opposition. Now that Skaff is labeling himself as a ‘Republican,’ despite his storied liberal record in the House, the upcoming primary is one of those times.”
Regarding the matter of party affiliation alteration, Skaff asserts his stance as being in favor of the sanctity of life, the right to bear arms, and the promotion of coal industry. Similar to numerous individuals, his core principles remain unaltered, with only his political designation undergoing modification.
According to Skaff, “100,000 Republicans didn’t just move to West Virginia overnight, and change their party affiliation. These were old blue dog Democrats who were always conservative mainstream and just registered with a different party. Like many others before me, I know I’m not the first and I won’t be the last to work with a team in the Republican Party that represents the majority of West Virginia’s interests.”
Skaff initially assumed membership in the House in the year 2009, maintaining his position till the year 2014. The individual in question was successfully re-elected during the year 2018. The Charleston Gazette-Mail, along with other newspapers in the state, is under the ownership of HD Media, with the individual in question serving as its president.
Pushkin took a parting shot, saying, “While I appreciate Doug finally putting his cards on the table about his long-rumored, politically expedient party switch. I’m surprised he would try to reinvent himself as a right-wing conservative in the process. I know Doug has long been intoxicated by the idea of winning a statewide office. Still, his candidacy could leave Republican primary voters with a hangover when they find out about his actual voting record.”
Skaff is among a growing number of Democrats who have recently transitioned their party affiliation to the Republican Party.
In the previous month, Louisiana State Representative Jeremy LaCombe made a public declaration of his departure from the Democratic Party and subsequent registration as a member of the Republican Party.
Despite the initial lack of clarity on LaCombe’s motivation for switching, it is noteworthy that he has become the second Louisiana Democrat to do so within a month, following a similar action by a state senator in North Carolina, so making him the third individual in the country to transfer party affiliation.
The recent acquisition of a supermajority in the state House by the Republican Party was facilitated by the defection of another Democrat, namely Representative Francis Thompson from Delhi. This development is significant as it enables Republicans to surpass the required threshold for overriding vetoes and enacting tax bills.
Earlier this month, Tricia Cotham, a state legislator hailing from North Carolina, similarly engaged in the aforementioned action.
In 2019, LaCombe was victorious in both a special election and a general election, securing his House seat by garnering 68% and 62% of the vote, respectively, thereby defeating the Republican candidates.
The phenomenon of party flips arises in the context of President Joe Biden encountering a notable decline in support ratings among significant demographic segments, reaching levels that are close to historical lows.
According to The Daily Wire, an analysis of polling data conducted by RealClearPolitics (RCP) reveals that former President Donald Trump has obtained a higher level of public support compared to President Biden in a hypothetical electoral contest.
The post Furious Democat Leader Flees Party And Immediately Joins GOP In Bold Move appeared first on The Republic Brief.
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