Is the Democratic Party for Sale at the County Level?

Well, it would appear that there is no state rule preventing county chair people from taking large sums of money from any and all candidates during the primaries. 

The problem with that is large oil, drug, and other companies can launder money through candidates to get county parties to support candidates that share their views.

While a county chairperson is not allowed to publicly endorse any candidate during the primary season that does not stop lower level party members from taking their directions from where the money comes from for their office and supplies. It can help those smaller counties to pay for nice things but at what cost to the voters?

Big Drug companies are looking for friendly state laws that would allow them to drop large amounts of addicting drugs into countries with problems. They are also looking to block the legalization of Marijuana which would decrease their sales of Opioids.

Now big oil companies have a vested interest in reducing laws that protect the environment. They want to block green energy productions. They want support in fracking for oil and gas. All of these items can be blocked by the governor and state representatives. A well placed candidate can help them to hold back advancement in these areas. Candidates are not above lying to the public in slick advertisements to get elected only to turn around on these issue once in office.

Private prisons have a strong interest in law enforcement that receives funding for putting people in jail. Treatment programs only reduces the jail population and cost them money. So they like tough on crime candidates that have no interest in expanding treatment programs.

County Parties can have a sizeable impact on the results of any election. The ward and precinct chairs have far fewer restrictions and even work for local campaigns. They can wear campaign gear and even canvas as party officials. They can make sure that the campaign lecture of their candidate is place in key areas of the office while others are not.

The problem with all of this is that voters are disgusted with open tactics to get them to vote for a few chosen candidates. This has been resulting in more wins for the Republican Party because fewer and fewer people are voting. Many voters are opting out rather than holding their noses while they vote for a candidate that they view as little better than the republican candidate. 

The state party better get their act together or the republicans will be holding the offices and may even gain in a time when democrats should be electing more candidates because of President Trumps effect on voters.