On August 21st, 2013 six moreTexas Democratic officeholders switched to the Republican Party,

So much for Texas turning blue by 2020.

Party Switchers Top 200!   On August 21st, 2013 six more Democratic officeholders switched to the Republican Party, bringing the total number of Democratic elected officials who have switched to the Republican Party since the conclusion of the November 2008 elections to 209. Our newest party switchers come from Sabine County where County Commissioner Precinct 2 Jimmie McDaniel, County Commissioner Precinct 3 Doyle Dickerson, County Clerk Janice McDaniel, County Treasurer Tricia Jacks, County Tax Collector Martha Stone and District Clerk Tanya Walker. This brings our total number of party switchers in August alone up to nine with the three Democrats that recently switched from Jefferson County on August 9th; including Jefferson County Precinct 2 Commissioner Brent Weaver, Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Ray Chesson, and Precinct 7 Justice of the Peace Brad Burnett. All of the current party switchers, like their predecessors, have come forward after deciding that the Republican Party better represents their communities and their personal values. The fact that so many Democrats have switched parties in just two election cycles is further indication that the Republican Party of Texas is on the upswing and the future looks bright. Texas Republican Party Chairman, Steve Munisteri, commenting on the most recent defections stated: “Anybody who knows anything about Texas politics knows that controlling the county courthouses is a huge advantage. Justices of the Peace, County Clerks, Judges, etc., all have their own political basis which can strengthen a party overall. This is why we have increased our efforts over the past year to convince conservative Democratic officeholders that the Republican Party of Texas is where their future and the state’s future lie." Texas is no stranger to Democratic Party switchers. Between the 2008 and 2010 elections alone, 75 Democrat elected officials switched to the Republican Party. Then in a landslide election year in 2010 that saw us add 500 more Republicans that November, 85 more Democrats switched parties before the 2012 election. On top of the 156 new Republicans elected last November, just since last January we have already welcomed 49 new Democrat officials to the Republicans Party, bringing the current total number of party switchers up to 209 as of August 31, 2013. At the end of the November 2008 elections, Republicans held 2,395 out of the approximately 5,200 elected offices statewide. As a result of the gains noted above, there are 906 more elected Republicans today than at the conclusion of the November 2008 elections. Today the total number of Republican elected officials statewide is 3259. It is not always easy to stand up and oppose your colleagues and the Republican Party of Texas would like to personally commend all of these 209 party switchers that have been brave enough to stand up for their beliefs and prove that their constituents’ values come first. We are looking forward to working with our newest members of the Republican party and will continue to welcome any other Democratic officials around the state that are ready to come join the fight for Texas’ true conservative values.