Why Are You Running as a Democrat?

Question:

I’m registered as a Republican, but that doesn’t make me a conservative. I wanted to be a party of the people who actually make decisions in our elections, even if I’m surrounded by conservatives. I’d say I’m middle of the road on positions, I’ve got my own ideas on what I want to see changed. I heard about you and your life, and it sounds like we might see eye to eye on a lot of the problems that plague our nation. However I’m confused why you’re trying to run on a democratic ticket. Maybe you’ve got your own personal reasons, but I think it would be a shame if you didn’t get elected for that reason. With that being said, if you do get elected, are you willing to work with the other party regardless of who they may be? I know a lot of democrats that will never vote for the other party or even side with them when they hold the same beliefs, same goes for republicans I know. Are you willing to compromise and work beyond party lines? Also as a personal question, I never hear anyone advocating for young men in the democrats, so could you speak on our behalf? We don’t want handouts or special programs to support us, we just want a break from being told we should be ashamed of ourselves, that we are born with problem that need to be fixed, and some encouragement to engage with society and become strong providers again. I’ll be interested to hear what you think. 

Answer:

Hi Caleb,

Thank you for reaching out and for being so open and honest with me. I appreciate you sharing your perspective, because too often politics has turned into people talking at each other instead of with each other. Like you, I don’t see life as a straight party-line issue. I’ve lived a life where hunger, homelessness, and hardship weren’t abstract political talking points, they were daily realities. Those experiences taught me that good ideas can come from anywhere, and that people’s needs don’t come in red or blue.

You asked why I’m running on the Democratic ticket. The truth is, I wasn't quite sure where I stood and always considered myself a centrist until the Obama era. His presidency revealed those in my orbit who hated him from day one merely because of the color of his skin. For me, it was like people hating me as kid just because I was poor, or for being a foster kid without ever getting to know me. I am just not a hateful person, nor do I want to associate with that level of negativity. I am not saying that all people on the right are racist, I am just saying that none of my democratic friends were using the language I was hearing to refer to Obama and over the years I gravitated more to the left. However, my campaign is not about towing a party line. It’s about making sure working families, veterans, farmers, and everyday Oklahomans have a voice in Washington. I’ve never been the kind of man to blindly follow, I’m running to represent people, not a party.

And yes, I will absolutely work across the aisle. If an idea helps Oklahomans and Americans, I don’t care whose name is on it. I think one of the biggest failures in Washington is when leaders put scoring political points above solving real problems. That’s not me. I know compromise is necessary, and I know common sense often comes from the middle of the road where most of us actually live.

On your last point, I hear you about young men. Too many feel like they’ve been pushed aside, blamed for problems, or told they don’t have a place. I believe we should be encouraging young men to step into responsibility, leadership, and purpose. Not by giving handouts, but by opening doors, through education, job opportunities, mentoring, and respect. We need to build a culture that expects greatness from our young men while giving them the tools and encouragement to reach it. That’s not about shame; it’s about strength.

At the end of the day, I’m running to restore some honesty and dignity to politics, and to make sure people like you, who don’t fit neatly into a box, know you’ve got someone listening.

Troy W. Green 

Oklahoma Candidate 

for U.S. Senate