THE REVOLT GROWS – OVERNIGHT:  One by one we see Americans revolting against the views of the new, woke, Democratic Party.  Virginia has the spotlight tonight.  From bizpacreview.com: 

Thanks to its increasing anti-police extremism, the Democrat Party has lost three influential voters in Virginia.

The three influential voters — Sheriff Chip Shuler of Smyth County, Sheriff John McClanahan of Buchanan County and Sheriff Brian Hieatt of Tazewell County — were once all Democrats. But not anymore.

Shuler made his switch two Mondays ago when he formally filed a membership application with the Smyth County Republican Committee and the application was promptly approved, as reported by local station WJHL.

“I am changing to the Republican Party because of the relentless attack on law enforcement by Democrats in Richmond and Washington. My deputies work hard to serve and protect the citizens of Smyth County,” he said in a press release at the time.

“As sheriff, it has been difficult to watch my deputies try to move forward during this unprecedented assault on our profession,” he said in a press release. We remain an honorable profession and should not be judged by the bad acts of a few,” he added.

Smyth County Republican Committee chair Adam Tolbert didn’t hesitate a second to welcome a new Republican to the team.

Welcome to the Republican Party, Sheriff Shuler! https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/smyth-county-sheriff-leaves-democratic-party-joins-gop/

“I congratulate Sheriff Shuler on taking this bold move to leave the Democratic Party and join the Republican Party. We are thrilled to have him as a member of the Republican Party in Smyth County,” he told WJHL.

McClanahan and Hieatt both made their conversions in 2020.

“My career is a large part of my life and I consider it to be my calling. I have said it many times but the Democratic Party that we know today is no longer the party my grandfather was involved in,” McClanahan said in a statement last September.

“The ideologies of the party have shifted away from those traditional values. Currently, the Democratic Party is going against everything I stand for, pushing for defunding the police and the taking away of safeguards that have been put in place for us,” 

COMMENT:  It's hard to know how many voters will be influenced by these party switchers.  As a general rule, endorsements are no match for the direct appeal of candidates.  But a buildup of party switches by law enforcement leaders might well make a difference, especially in close races.

The problem we face in Virginia is that the northern counties, which border on sinful Washington, are overpopulated with infiltrators from liberal cities.  They have turned Virginia from a conservative state to one that is purple, and tilting more to the blue.  I hope more sheriffs come forward and wake up the people of Virginia.  I can't believe they want to become the new Illinois or New Jersey.

June 3,  2021