Apparently the 9th RD Committee voted last night to nominate Jason Hortiz to replace Representative Rebecca Walker on the ballot. It would seem that the race came down to two former Republicans in past lives: the aforementioned Jason Hortiz, and Andye Daley, who once was Tom Kovach’s campaign manager. Without knowing how close the vote was, Andye Daley posted on Facebook last night that Jason had won.
Everyone I have heard from speak very well of both candidates, how each’s conversion from being a Republican was sincere, how each were good people, and how each were genuinely involved and interested in the 9th RD. I hope this is true, and I hope Mr. Hortiz turns out to be a good Democratic legislator should he win the election. When I first posted about this RD race in the 9th on Friday, about wondering if Mr. Hortiz still retained any Republican principles and wondering if we witnessing a repeat of the John Atkins affair in 2008 (where he was convinced to change parties and vote to put the Democrats in the majority, but otherwise he was and he voted as a Republican), I received some push back on the fact that the 9th RD was a conservative leaning district and that means we have to nominate a conservative.
To which I say, Bullshit. Sure, it is fine in the Democratic party to have certain differences of opinion on some issues. We will forgive someone who is pro-death penalty, as there is a geniune split of opinion on that issue. Gun control too. There is a genuine split on that issue too. But pro-choice, anti-discrimination, pro-marriage equality, etc.? If you in the 9th want someone nominated who wants to repeal Obamacare and impeach Obama, wants to cut taxes on the rich and cut spending everywhere in government, except for those farm subsidies of course, who thinks climate change is a hoax, etc, etc, well, how about you nominate the Republican candidate who has already been nominated.