Hillsborough District 30 New Hampshire Democrat Mariellen MacKay has changed her party affiliation. From now on she’d like to be called a Republican. But there’s a problem. The New Hampshire House Republican Alliance (NHHRA) which tracks legislators votes based on their adherence to the Republican Party platform reports that of the 43 votes they have followed in the 2017 session, MacKay, who cast a vote on all of them, only voted “Republican” on one.
This isn’t exactly encouraging.
Mariellen MacKay is (or was) the Chairman of the Nashua Democrat Delegation and hasn’t been a registered “Republican” since 1992, according to the Union Leader.
“It took her a long time to make the decision to switch over. This was not something she did on a whim,” LeBrun, a Republican, said on Friday. “She is a welcome asset to the Republican Party.”
LeBrun stressed that MacKay was a registered Republican prior to 1992. He described her as an intelligent, hardworking legislator who is a great researcher and always well prepared.
“She is basically a middle-of-the-line person. Her votes are not often left or right, but rather her thoughts alone without pressure from others,” said LeBrun. “She is her own person.”
There have been more than 43 votes in the NH House so far this session, so there is no way to say for certain how progressive MacKay is as a Legislator but voting the opposite on 97.7% of votes the House Republican Alliance thought important enough to track is problematic.
It certainly doesn’t paint her as a moderate or “a middle-of-the-line person” who votes her own conscience.
What’s the deal?
There is one possible explanation. While the left and the media work every day to hide the fact, the party of diversity and inclusiveness has a zero tolerance policy for reps who wander off the reservation, particularly on key votes when there is no geo-political necessity. If for example, MacKay was in an even or R+ district and the final vote wouldn’t matter, they’d let her vote the wrong way to send the right message. It is more important to keep the seat for close votes on important issues they think they can win.
MacKay appears to be voting the Democrat line on issues important to Republicans so why leave the Democrat party?
The most likely explanation is that the ideologically narrow and intolerant Democrats bullied her out. And why not. She won’t get to wear the name and they’ll still get her for most of the votes.
On the other side of the aisle, Speaker Shawn Jasper and the Big Tent House Republican Leadership will welcome her with open arms. She is exactly their sort of “Republican.” One that will continue to vote against the GOP Platform and State constitution on key legislation.
Everyone wins but real Republicans.
