Crossovers from Dems to GOP up in county; still a minor factor

Posted 8/4/22

Democrats changing political party registration to Republican in Park County ahead of the 2022 primary election have increased substantially over prior years, but the total numbers have not impacted …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Crossovers from Dems to GOP up in county; still a minor factor

Posted

Democrats changing political party registration to Republican in Park County ahead of the 2022 primary election have increased substantially over prior years, but the total numbers have not impacted the party registrations significantly.

Figures from the Park County Elections Office indicate 337 Democrats and 192 unaffiliated voters have changed their party registration to Republican in 2022.  The congressional race between incumbent Liz Cheney and challenger Harriet Hageman on the Republican ticket in the Aug. 16 primary election has been cited by multiple crossover voters.

“There is not a coordinated effort by the party, but many Dems are doing just that,” said Jan Kliewer of Powell,  chairman of the Park County Democratic Central Committee. 

The number of switches to the Republican column in 2022 is roughly four times higher than at the  same point ahead of the 2018 midterm primary election.  It’s still a small percentage of the total Park County electorate.

As of Monday, Aug. l, total registered voters in the county numbered 17,503, including 14,407 Republicans (82.3% of the total), 1,203 Democrats (almost 6.9% of the total) and 1,714 unaffiliated voters (9.8%).

Voter registrations prior to the primary election closed Aug. 1. However, people can still register to vote or update their registration and political affiliation at the time they vote, whether at their polling place on Election Day or when voting early at the Elections Office in the Park County Courthouse. 

— Dave Bonner

Comments