You always hear Republican candidates (as well as folks seeking leadership within the Republican Party itself) talk endlessly during campaign season about the problem of crossover voting and the need for CLOSED PRIMARIES!!!

[NOTE: Basically the claim (and proven fact) is that Democrats crossover and vote in the June Republican Primaries for the WEAKEST Republican. If they can’t elect a Democrat in the November elections based in the political demographics of the district, they might as well elect a weak uniparty Republican willing to lie / pretend to be conservative.]

But once campaign season is over … you never hear a thing. Maybe it is because they are “working behind the scenes” … lol. We hear that excuse … A LOT!!! All talk but no action!!!

Well, it has been 20+ years for some of these people preaching “Closed Primaries” … with ZERO RESULTS … so we thought we would bring you two examples today as to why closed primaries are important for South Carolina.

Remember too … South Carolina is a REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY state … we know Democrats don’t want closed primaries, Republicans are supposed to want closed primaries, so why can’t we get closed primaries?

PLUS, it is right there in our SC Republican Platform. Again, why can’t we get closed primaries?

“We believe political parties have the right to choose their nominees; therefore, we support primaries that are open only to registered voters of that political party.” – SC Republican Platform

CASE STUDIES

TWO CASE STUDIES: Some folks might think it is not really a big deal or that it doesn’t really happen that much … so we wanted to bring you two examples today of Democrat leaders that actually vote in the Republican Primaries.

If Democrat leaders are voting “Republican” … don’t you think they are encouraging mainstream Democrats to vote in the Republican Primaries as well?

We think these examples will wake up a few people.

EXAMPLE #1

RUSSELL STALL: Greenville City Councilman Russell Stall is a well known political Democrat. There is no disguising it … he is a far-left leaning Democrat, and he is pretty proud of it.

We don’t fault him for his political position as people are welcome to their opinions and beliefs even if we don’t agree … but we do find it interesting that he is listed in the SC Republican Party’s GOP Datacenter as a “HARD REPUBLICAN”. Even his wife and son are listed as “HARD REPUBLICANs” … but maybe they are, we just know that Dad is not!!!

Why does the GOP list Russell as a Hard Republican? Probably because he votes in every June Republican Primary … per our records back to 2000 … except for one!!!

It is absolutely incredible … but see below for yourself.

STALL VOTING RECORD:

EXAMPLE #2

FARRIS STEELE JOHNSON: Now this example is really good. Farris is an ultra-leftwing Democrat. There have been some controversial issues around Farris … but the key here is that Farris has figured out the crossover primary game.

In 2020 Farris ran as a Democrat for Greenville County Council. Farris filed for that election … as a Democrat in March 2020.

But three months later, in June 2020 … per the SCGOP records … Farris actually voted in the Republican Primary.

Farris actually voted again … per the SCGOP Records … in the June 2022 Republican Primaries. As we pointed out, Farris has figured out the crossover primary game.

So, the problem is not getting better … the problem is getting WORSE!!!

JOHNSON’S VOTING RECORD:

This is standard operating procedure in South Carolina politics. Democrats vote in the June Republican Primaries and pick the Republican nominee. It is a massive frustration for conservatives … and it is clearly one of the biggest reasons South Carolina is rated by CPAC as the most liberal red state in the nation.

Question is … what are “Republican” legislators going to do about it? Will they do anything? Why have some political “activists” claimed to be for closed primaries and it is their #1 issue … but we have seen no action for years? Do they really want to close the primaries? Makes you wonder …

Will a closed primaries bill pass in the 2024 SC Legislative Session? What is your guess?

Stay tuned … and get in the fight!!!