GOP overtakes Dems in Harford registration
Registered Republicans outnumber their Democratic counterparts in Harford County for the first time in recent memory. The latest figures show a difference of 28 voters, an increase that will likely continue until registration ends on Tuesday, said James Massey, director of the county board of elections.
“This is the first time ever,” Massey said. “Republicans got close a few times before but never exceeded Democrats. We have been seeing this trend for years.”
He attributes the change to those switching parties to vote in numerous Republican primary races, rather than to new registrations, which he said are fairly flat.
“We have seen a lot of switching, probably because there are more choices in the Republican primary and a lot of close races,” Massey said.
Since Democrats did not field candidates in several key Harford races, including county executive and council president, primary voters will decide the outcome.
Registration as of Tuesday shows 148,059 voters in Harford County, with 62,199 Republicans and 62,171 Democrats. The remaining voters are registered in various smaller parties and 22,180 are unaffiliated.
-Mary Gail Hare
Comments
The switch is Democrats switching parties to vote for weak candidates in the Republican primaries. Same tactic they used in 2008 across the country to get McCain nominated. I would be more optimistic if it would be new Republican registrations.
Posted by: commonsense | August 19, 2010 11:25 AM
The key sentence here - "He attributes the change to those switching parties to vote in numerous Republican primary races, rather than to new registrations, which he said are fairly flat." In other words, its just a bunch of old Regan Democrats finally getting off their butts and changing their registrations. Nothing for the GOP to crow about.
Posted by: Ron | August 19, 2010 11:40 AM
It could also be that many democratic voters are not pleased with the way democrats have run things in the recent past...
Posted by: John | August 19, 2010 12:24 PM
Here's the thing, many Democrats in Harford County are hold-outs from the old Democratic Party and are more moderate to conservative, especially with regards to social issues. I would not necessarily write this off as Democrats seeking to tip the primary in favor of weaker Republican nominees.
Posted by: Joe | August 19, 2010 12:32 PM
Well Ron there is going to be plenty for the GOP to crow about in November. As the Gipper used to say: " You ain't seen nothing yet!"
Posted by: ranger | August 19, 2010 12:52 PM
Finally the Dixiecrats are officially joining the GOP. As a Democrat, I say good riddance to bad rubbish.
Posted by: unrest | August 19, 2010 1:59 PM
commensense, are you referring to that "Operation Chaos" tactic that they pioneered. Yes, that was very unfair of Democrats to do that. Boo-hoo.
Posted by: IPFrehley | August 19, 2010 2:19 PM
Harford County has been completely dominanted by Republicans for the last ten years.
Also, I highly doubt it is for weak candidates because many elected positions in Harford don't even have Democrat opponents (County Executive, County Council President, at least two council seats probably more, and even a State Senate seat).
Posted by: From Harford | August 19, 2010 9:20 PM