# why don't the primaries get brigaded by opposite party? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2016, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-primaries-get-brigaded-by-opposite-party/742557 "2016-01-09T03:45:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-primaries-get-brigaded-by-opposite-party/742557/41 "2016-01-10T02:24:19Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > They’re called _Representatives_. I have no idea why “Congressman” annoys me so much, but everyone seems to use it when referring solely to the House of Representatives, whereas Congress consists of both houses. I agree–but in the news and most public forums of discussion House members get called “Congressman/Congresswoman.” I have no idea on the etymological history of how this started and why Senators are never called that (even though they’re obviously part of Congress, too.) You sometimes see House members called “Rep. Jon Smith (D-NY)”, but the demonym most often used for them when you’re not calling them by full name has been congressman/congresswoman as long as I can remember. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-primaries-get-brigaded-by-opposite-party/742557/42 "2016-01-10T02:58:52Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > It is generally believed. based on polling, that Democrats crossing over to vote for McCain in [2008](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_primaries_in_the_United_States#Manipulation_and_dilution) turned him from also-ran to front runner. The same might happen this year with but who they might vote for is unclear. Trump might have seen like a good idea several months ago, but probably not anymore. Although was that really a case of Democrats crossing over to vote for the weaker candidate, or were they genuine crossover voters? McCain used to be seen as an independent-minded moderate (a reputation largely torpedoed by the '08 campaign) so I could very easily see voters who’d normally be more conservative Democrats voting for McCain genuinely. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-primaries-get-brigaded-by-opposite-party/742557/43 "2016-01-10T03:24:05Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > NO. > > The law doesn’t generally recognize parties. > So where the state provides for “OPEN” primaries, it means that you vote for the PERSON. > What parties do is UP TO THEM ,so where the state has party internal primaries, > then any member of the party may vote… > > So what can happen is that a citizen can be members of TWO PARTIES. In New York state, primaries are handled exactly as every other election is. You sign the official election register just as in any other election. New York is a closed primary state, so you have to be registered in that party to vote in that party’s primary. Being registered in a party does not mean you are a member of that party. It’s just the way you are registered. You can only be registered in one party at any time. This is true for all states that have party registration. You can vote any way you like in any non-party election; your registration is irrelevant. (Even in primaries in some states.) Nor do you have to be registered to a party to vote in a non-primary election here. You can be a blank (the equivalent of independent or none, depending on how other states classifies these things). Primaries are elections and they are handled by all applicable state and local election laws. You can’t screw around with them any more than you would any other election. > [@friedo](#): > > They’re called _Representatives_. I have no idea why “Congressman” annoys me so much, but everyone seems to use it when referring solely to the House of Representatives, whereas Congress consists of both houses. In English, if everybody uses a term to mean something, that’s what it means. There is no outside body to deny this. Congressman to mean member of Congress precedes the current two-chamber system. Since there was only one house, all members of Congress were Congressmen. When the current Constitution was implemented, the House of Representatives, the body elected by the people rather than the Senate which was elected by state legislatures, was naturally seen as the more important and more representative body. Your representative was literally the man who represented you, or at least your small district, not the state as a whole. So Congressman became synonymous with member of the House of Representatives. It’s the correct term and always has been. (With the caution that Congresswoman or Congressperson are sometimes deemed to be more fitting today.) ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-primaries-get-brigaded-by-opposite-party/742557/44 "2016-01-10T03:57:02Z")
I registered to vote for the opposing party years ago. My state always votes the same way so I felt like my vote was just being wasted. Now I can throw my vote around and it even has some weight because there aren’t a lot of voters on the opposing team, right now. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-primaries-get-brigaded-by-opposite-party/742557/45 "2016-01-10T21:23:09Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > According to real clear politics, Kasich has the worst chance against Clinton (7.5 lead to Clinton) so presumably the cross over Dems could vote from him. But a modest amount of crossover Dems has no chance of raising Kasich up to the level need to win the nomination. The opposing party voters need to vote for someone who has a reasonable chance of getting the nomination but not too reasonable a chance of winning the election. So someone running a bit back from the leader but not too far back. (And crossing over to vote for the leader is pointless.) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-primaries-get-brigaded-by-opposite-party/742557/46 "2016-01-10T22:39:57Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > I agree–but in the news and most public forums of discussion House members get called “Congressman/Congresswoman.” I have no idea on the etymological history of how this started and why Senators are never called that (even though they’re obviously part of Congress, too.) > > You sometimes see House members called “Rep. Jon Smith (D-NY)”, but the demonym most often used for them when you’re not calling them by full name has been congressman/congresswoman as long as I can remember. Because it’s shorter. This is the news you’re talking about, so the difference in time to say _Congressman_ vs. _Representative_ is significant to them. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-primaries-get-brigaded-by-opposite-party/742557/47 "2016-01-11T00:17:29Z")
In the journalistic organizations I have worked for, the style rules have been to use “U.S. senator,” “U.S. representatives,” and “delegate” and to avoid “congressman” and “congresswoman.” I believe though that the rules of the U.S. House of Representatives state that “congressman” and “congresswoman” are valid options. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-primaries-get-brigaded-by-opposite-party/742557/48 "2016-01-11T00:26:34Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > One thing I don’t understand about the US political system\*. In a lot of states you can register and vote in both primaries (maybe all states I don’t know). Huh? I’ve lived and voted in 5 states, in all of them you only get to vote in 1 primary. You get to choose which primary, and you can vote in the Republican primary in one election then the Democratic the next. Actually, in my current state they all held at the same place on the same day, it’s a matter of which ballot you’re handed. So if you want to vote for the Green party you can do that, too, although there’s a lot fewer people/offices to choose from. > [@](#): > > What stops Democrats from voting for the least likely to win Republican candidate and vice versa? Absolutely nothing. I’m sure it happens. Just not in massive numbers. > [@](#): > > \*actually sorry theres many things I don’t understand about the US political system. It can be pretty baffling to us natives, too, sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-primaries-get-brigaded-by-opposite-party/742557/49 "2016-01-11T00:44:24Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > In the US, would it be normal for everyone to know who their state representative is? Here in the UK, I doubt if 3 out of 10 random people could name their MP. Meh. It depends. Some are better known that others. Also, as already noted, one’s state representatives on the Federal level are more likely to be known than on the state level. > [@md2000](#): > > Don’t need to be a paid-up member in the USA, just declare your leanings as I understand. Correct. In fact, American political parties don’t have dues. They do ask for donations all the time, but there aren’t dues. > [@](#): > > The other point is, as I understand, you are voting the full gamut. The USA is legendary in Canada as the place where even dog-catchers are elected. By selecting a political party choice, you are allowed to primary vote for all positions at once for that one party (maybe even in a butterfly ballot?) Yes, there is often an option to simply choose “everyone in this party” if you don’t want to go through every name on the ballot. That’s for general elections, not primaries. > [@](#): > > So selecting one party to vote for the worst presidential candidate, means you are not able to vote for a good candidate from your favourite party for congress or senate, where all the work is (not) done. Or mayor, governor, state legislature, bridge lane-closing committee, school board, etc. Or dog-catcher. Correct. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-primaries-get-brigaded-by-opposite-party/742557/50 "2016-01-11T05:42:51Z")
It happens alot in my area where democrats are few so they vote for “moderate” republicans. RINOS we call them (republicans in name only). Of course we reps can then vote for conservative democrats so i guess it evens out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-primaries-get-brigaded-by-opposite-party/742557.md?page=2)