Red State Conundrum

[XacerbatedDem]

I live in Missouri (pronounced mis’ery) and every time I vote for a Democratic candidate, his opponent always seems to win, which is, need I say, somewhat disconcerting. A friend of mine feels the same way, but suggested that maybe it would be best if we voted for the repug candidate running against the favored repug candidate instead of seeing our vote go to waste (not in the Presidential elections, of course, but in the local elections). I don’t know, can’t really say I agree with that, but after that damned HEE-Hawley idiot beat out Claire McCaskill, I’m ready to try anything.

What do you think?

[pwb]

1. We need to look at red state voting machines.

You know they are messing with the numbers when they accuse us of cheating, They are.

[2naSalit]

13. A lot f red states...

Have paper ballots and use scanning machines.

[Scrivener7]

2. Sigh. Vote for Democrats.

[XacerbatedDem]

3. Plan to.

I always vote democratic, just depressed that it doesn't do any good in this state.

[Klaralven]

4. Strategic voting in primaries

If you are happy with the likely winner of the Democratic primary, and the Democratic candidate has a good chance of winning, then vote in the Republican primary for the candidate that can win the primary, but is less likely to win in the general election.

If you are in a red district, and no Democratic primary winner has a good chance of winning the general, then vote in the Republican primary for the least repulsive Republican candidate who has a chance to win the general.

However, there will usually be several races in a primary at the national, state and local level, so you need to balance across these as to where your vote will do the most good and prevent the most harm.

[XacerbatedDem]

5. So, target the primary. Love it.

[abqtommy]

7. Thanks for this excellent info. nt

[viva la]

6. I did that once in a primary...

Voted for the horror Republican who beat out the more normal guy, then I voted for the Dem in the regular, who won. I felt sort of scuzzy about it. And the danger is, now, in 2022, the horrible candidate is likely to win the general. We can't any longer count in the common sense of half the populace to decide that this rape-condoning racist is unworthy.... especially in red states.

[XacerbatedDem]

10. In Mo, KC and St Louis still have a chance, but the rest of the state...

totally red. My brother had a Biden sticker on his truck and has had several times where these a**holes have pointed guns at him on the highway.

[Farmer-Rick]

8. About 8 years ago, our Democratic primary voted in a KKK member

To run against a GOP senator.

So I called my local president of the Democratic Party and e-mailed the state party. They kind of laughed at me. As if it had been a fair election or something. They really didn't care that they just lost the general and a lot of Democratic voters.

I really think that sometimes Democrats are paid to lose.

[abqtommy]

9. Welcome to DU. I think it's good to have you here, that's what I think. nt

[XacerbatedDem]

11. Thank you, abqtommy. Proud to join the underground

[Jilly_in_VA]

12. I did that here

in the 2012 presidential primary just to gum up the GOP works. I voted for Ron Paul. Can't stand the guy, but I figured, WTF. I pretty much felt like Obama was going to win the general anyway. The only downside is that I've been targeted by the Repugs ever since. I have a lot of fun mailing them back their polls all written up in red with no money attached.

[XacerbatedDem]

16. If they have return postage guarantee, tape it to a brick and drop it in the mail.

[mcar]

14. I live in a very red county in FL

The last 2 elected Democrats switched to Republican last year. I'm involved with our local Democratic Women's Club and we work hard to get people registered and to get people to vote.

I know some Dems here will switch to R so they can vote in the primaries, then switch back for the general. I don't do that. I support Democrats running for office even if I know their chances are slim.

[Hoyt]

15. Not really interested in that kind of election rigging attempt.