Congressional Republicans won’t defy Trump because they fear being challenged in their primaries by a candidate backed by him and financed by his billionaire supporters. Democrats can threaten Republican members Congress more than Trump by voting in Republican primaries for Republicans that are not beholden to Trump.
10 states have primaries that allow any registered voter to vote in the other party’s primary without having to change their party registration.
14 states currently have primaries where voters who aren’t registered with any party can vote in any primary.
Democrats can always vote their choice in a national election no matter which primary they voted in.
Adding Democrat voters to those who vote against Trump-obedient candidates in primaries will increase the odds that Trump- obedient candidates will lose their seats to a non-Trump Republican. And plenty of independents will join them.
Among independents, 74% disapprove of congressional Republicans. Approval of Trump’s handling of the shutdown stands at 25%, with disapproval at 75%.
76% of independents want the tax credits for the health care marketplace to be extended. And 55% of Americans have a favorable view of the Affordable Care Act.
Of course, Democrats would need to decide whether they’re more likely to beat a non-Trump Republican than a Trump-obedient Republican in the national election.
Also, voters can vote in only one primary, so Democrats may be less willing to give up their vote in a close Democratic primary than they would in a runaway primary.
If Congressional Republicans can feel the way the wind blows, they’ll think seriously about leaving Trump’s ship.
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