Could 'conservative' voters influence the Democratic primary? This group is encouraging it

PROVIDENCE – A tax-exempt, advocacy group concerned about "anti-American teachings," "divisive critical race theories" and perceived pressure on children to undergo gender-changing procedures is launching a campaign to get voters "who normally wouldn't do so, to cross over and vote" in the Democratic primary for Rhode Island's open congressional seat.

The Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity announced the "public awareness" campaign on Wednesday.

"With 22 announced Democrat candidates splitting the vote, a few thousand cross-over ballots could be the difference in swinging the election away from one of the radically-woke front-runners," said the center's CEO, Mike Stenhouse.

"Why not be strategic about casting your ballot by crossing over to help elect a more palatable and common-sense candidate, instead of sending yet another reality-challenged progressive to Congress?" Stenhouse said.

It is not fully clear who among the 22 announced Democratic candidates might benefit, though it would appear pro-gun, anti-abortion Rep. Stephen Casey, D-Woonsocket, and Republican-turned-Democrat Allen Waters have the most to gain if the privately funded advocacy group encourages enough Rhode Island Republicans to re-register as Democrats.

Asked if he welcomed the group's crossover campaign, Casey told The Journal: "Absolutely! I decided to run for Congress back in March when there were four candidates in the race because I felt they did not represent the values I hold dear. ... I hold a deep respect for our constitutional rights and understand the importance of protecting them."

"It is indeed uncommon for a union firefighter to gain endorsement from individuals across the political spectrum," Casey said. But "my record at the State House has proven that I understand the importance of working together, irrespective of party affiliations, to prioritize the collective well-being of our community."

At this point, it is unclear if any of the nine Republicans who filed candidate declaration papers will bring in enough signatures by July 14 to qualify for the ballot. But Rep. Joseph McNamara, the state Democratic Party chairman, told The Journal on Thursday he found it telling that Stenhouse's group did not have faith in any of those Republicans to win.

"It's an old play from an old playbook that the MAGA Republicans are just bringing out once again, because their policies are so backward and unpopular that they're just looking for a way to be relevant," he said of the latest move by the Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity.

"We have a huge tent without the strict litmus tests and loyalty to Trump that the Center for Freedom & Prosperity espouses. So if you want true democracy and real representation, register with the Democrats," he said.

In Rhode Island, independents can vote in either primary

Under Rhode Island's hybrid primary system, independents – called unaffiliated voters in local argot – can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primaries. Registered Republicans, however, are eligible to vote only in the GOP primary and registered Democrats are allowed to participate only in the Democratic primary.

Without once mentioning the word Republican, the center's campaign announcement noted that voters – and "conservatives" in particular – have until Aug. 6 to change their party affiliation should they choose to vote in the Democratic primary.

Stenhouse said the campaign takes its cues from the 2006 crossover campaign by Democrats that then-Republican U.S. Senate candidate Lincoln Chafee encouraged in his winning GOP primary match against former Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey. (Chafee subsequently lost the seat to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse.)

More on CD1 race: CD1 race draws 35 candidates declaring their intent to run. Here are the many names.

"Liberals successfully deployed this strategy in voting through a left-leaning candidate in Rhode Island's 2006 U.S. Senate Republican primary. It's time for conservatives, likewise, to fully maximize their legal voting power," Stenhouse said Wednesday.

What will the campaign look like?

Stenhouse said the center's two-month, $15,000 campaign will include: 18 half-page ads in The Journal; social media advertising and promotion; a "dedicated informational webpage"; regular emails to its tens of thousands of subscribers; stories and opinion pieces on the center's "media arm," The Ocean State Current.

"The center also encourages the press and voters of all stripes to demand that every candidate go on record with responses to the biggest hot-button issue of our time … the Marxist & cultural revolution that has infected our society and is being indoctrinated into young students," he said.

By way of example, he said voters and the media should ask each of the candidates questions such as these:

"Should men be allowed to compete in women's sports? Should students be secretly coerced by school officials to undergo permanently debilitating and controversial gender-transition procedures? Should sexually explicit materials, anti-American teachings, and divisive critical race theories be part of any public school curricula?"

"Should parents have full rights to direct the health and education of their minor children?" it continues.

Asked which of the announced Democratic candidates might benefit, he said: "Any candidate who respects our constitutional rights, will not further hurt our family and business pocketbooks and who share some of the deeply held cultural values of most Rhode Islanders."

Asked what other issues the "public awareness" campaign would highlight, he said: "Cultural issues primarily, parental rights in education, climate change alarmism, following 'real science'."

What is the Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity?

The Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity describes itself as a nonprofit "pro-family, pro-growth research and advocacy organization" funded entirely by private tax-deductible donations.

More: RWU class looks at how race shapes the law. Could it change how law is taught nationwide?

Its stated mission as a 501c3 organization is "to return government to the people by opposing special-interest politics and advancing proven market-based solutions that can transform lives by restoring economic competitiveness, increasing educational opportunities, and protecting individual freedoms."

The chairman of the board is Dr. Stephen Skoly, the Cranston dentist who defied Rhode Island's COVID vaccine mandate for health care workers. Former Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice – and past Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate – Robert Flanders is also on the board.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI group wants 'conservative' voters to vote in Democratic primary