OntheWilderSide

A Newsday article from September 29th explains that,

Long Island’s minority neighborhoods are leaving the Democratic Party, data shows

The Newsday article/audio can be found: here
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I would be devasted if a lot of people changed their enrollment from Democratic Party to Republican Party.

However, the change from Democratic Party to independent seems like a powerful move for a person, for an individual voter, to make. (Please remember that in NY, “Independent” is a small, political party, which also has some right wing strands and often endorses Republicans. In NY, if you want to be “free” from party corruption, you should register “blank” — ie: do not choose a party.)

In the general election, you can vote for whomever you choose, no matter your registration. So, these “blank/independent” voters can still vote for the Democratic candidate. And, in addition, these newly registered “independent/free voters” can feel better about not haphazardly voting for everyone with a “D” next to their name. Also, these Independent Voters will not be supporting and endorsing the conservative strategies used by Suffolk County Democratic Chair Richard Schaffer and NY State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs — which “close to the vest”, “gentlemen’s-agreements-with-Republicans”, and “conservative” strategies have gotten all of us into this mess.

Now, it would be great if we could find Democratic candidates for whom it would be worthwhile to vote for. Let’s start discussing who on the ballot in November is worthy. And, then, who we should push for the midterms.

The Write-In Alternative

Also, don’t forget, if the Democrat and Republican leaders and committees don’t give you good choices on the ballot, you can always “write in”. In a small jurisdiction, an exciting write-in candidate, with a good platform and some supporters helping, could win.

If you have read this far and you are a Town of Riverhead voter…

Please do vote for Kevin Shea for Town Council!

For the November election, the Riverhead Town Democratic Party only put up candidates in 3 out of 5 possible slots. And, only one of the candidates — Kevin Shea — is a registered Democrat. (He is also very authentic, and cares deeply about social justice and democratic values.)

One of the candidates that will be on the Democratic line in Riverhead, has worked for Lee Zeldin and George Santos. Now, that is a reason to unenroll Democrat. (Or, alternately, it could be a reason for Democrats who are committed to their party, to reform their committees and kick out Richard Schaffer and Jay Jacobs. (Though, a little admission: I am speaking as an enrolled blank!)

Filed under: New York State Politics, News, politics, progressive politics, rants, Riverhead, social & economic justice, suffolk county, write-in vote Tagged: | Chairman Jay Jacobs, Democratic Enrollment dropping, Jay Jacobs, Kevin Shea, NY State Democratic Party, NY State electoral politics, Richard Schaffer, Shea for Riverhead, Town of Riverhead Elections 2025