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Politicians make party switch in different ways
by bobbyharrison
 Capitol Blog
5 months ago | 1220 views | 5 5 comments | 9 9 recommendations | email to a friend | print | permalink

JACKSON -- State Rep. Donnie Bell of Fulton and state Sen. Gray Tollison of Oxford are far from the first  Mississippi politicians to switch from the Democratic to the state's ever strengthening Republican Party.

But they do highlight the different ways politicians have handled the switch.

Amy Tuck changed to the Republican Party late in her first term as lieutenant governor. State Rep. Herb Frierson of Poplarville switched when he was running for re-election. State Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Brookhaven announced in December 2010 she would run for the post of commissioner of agriculture and commerce this year as a Republican.

Many others, such as state Ag Commissioner Lester Spell, Reps. Scott Bounds of Philadelphia and Bobby Shows of Laurel and state Sen. Ezell Lee of Picayune switched more or less in mid-stream or mid-term.

On June 1,  Bell and Tollison  had a choice to make. Did they want to qualify for re-election as a Republican or a Democrat?  They could have walked into the state Republican Party headquarters and made the switch before their re-election effort.

Instead, they chose to run for the next four-year term as Democrats. They took campaign donations from Democratic groups. They won re-election in November as Democrats.

Less than a week later, they changed to the Republican Party.

A commitment to a political party is not and should not be a lifetime commitment. But it is interesting to see how different politicians handle the switch and let their constituents know about it.



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phded
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December 18, 2011
It will be interesting to see what committee assignments are awarded. If the switch had occurred before qualifying, an expensive race may have been avoided.
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river2011
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December 17, 2011
LONG LIVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY! DEMOCRATS S_ _ K!
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smartyculottes
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December 11, 2011
Party switches are simply power moves. Regardless of which party you switch to, you should make you intent known BEFORE you're elected--or switch prior to an election. What do these folks have to hide? It just seems disingenuous to be on the ballot as a member of one party, get elected, then switch parties soon after.
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Patriot1742
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December 11, 2011
There are growing numbers of democrats who are making decisions to change as President Ronald Reagan did - he did not leave the democrat party - the party left him - right now the national democrat party represents the extreme left - the socialist - those who do not like this country and are doing everything they can to destroy it. NOW is the time for those who see themselves as conservative to move to the Republican party and hope that the conservative side of the party remains in control otherwise this country is in serious trouble - Obama, Pelosi and Reid have run up the credit cards - largest number of government employees to date - have no idea of what they are doing. Since Obama took office - limo use has gone up 78 per cent - really why do not public servants take public transportation rather than riding around like rock stars - while the rest of the country is struggling.
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shasar
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December 11, 2011
I would suggest that the net worths of those changing from Democrat to Republican, as well as their family members, be scrootinized thoroughly after a year or two in their "new party" position. I would also suggest that any and all political figures in any and all offices have their net worths from prior to their political position to a year or two after, be investigated. I believe that there are some big payoffs for consulting that was never done, for speeches not done, for work not earned.
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