Any State Parties in Disagreement on Big Issues?

[Indy Texas 🇺🇦🇵🇸]

I'm sure the Democratic parties in OK/KY/WV/AR openly disagree with the DNC as much as possible, on abortion, gay marriage and on oil/coal/environmental issues where applicable.

Wouldn't be surprised if Rhode Island's GOP were openly opposed to the national line on most social issues.

[Indy Texas 🇺🇦🇵🇸]

The RI GOP state senators voted to support gay marriage unanimously.

And RI Democratic state lawmakers tend to be anti-union and pro-life. They also led the way on our state's Voter ID law.

Beat me to it. I can't stand the RI Democratic Party.

What is the source of their relative conservatism? What makes them different from MA/CT?

[Indy Texas 🇺🇦🇵🇸]

The RI GOP state senators voted to support gay marriage unanimously.

And RI Democratic state lawmakers tend to be anti-union and pro-life. They also led the way on our state's Voter ID law.

Beat me to it. I can't stand the RI Democratic Party.

What is the source of their relative conservatism? What makes them different from MA/CT?

On social issues, most of them do whatever the Vatican tells them to do. We have the highest percentage of Roman Catholics in the country so whoever is the Bishop of the Diocese of Providence has a lot of sway. That's why all opposition to marriage equality came from Democrats. One of the reasons it took so long for us to pass marriage equality was our Senate president cared more about what the Vatican had to say about marriage equality than what her own constituents thought.  I also believe it's about 50/50 pro-choice/anti-choice in Democratic caucus in the state house.

On economic issues, it stems from being a one party state since the 1930s. It is extremely difficult to be elected to any statewide office (sans governor) unless you are a Democrat. Most state legislature districts are the same way. Due to this, everyone runs as a Democrat regardless of their political views. In most suburban and rural districts (and even urban if you're in Woonsocket!) the Democratic primary boils down to "who can be the most conservative?" These of the sort of areas that in a more purple state like Pennsylvania or Ohio would easily go to Republicans, but due to party loyalty people keep voting for Democrats.

The chair of the RI Democratic Party is also inept and a coward. If a large chunk of Democrats in say Ohio or Wisconsin started pulling the anti-union and tax cuts for the wealthy crap the Democrats do in this state, you can bet there'd be a primary challenge.

So who are the Republicans in Rhode Island? Where does their base of support lie?

[Indy Texas 🇺🇦🇵🇸]

The RI GOP state senators voted to support gay marriage unanimously.

And RI Democratic state lawmakers tend to be anti-union and pro-life. They also led the way on our state's Voter ID law.

Beat me to it. I can't stand the RI Democratic Party.

What is the source of their relative conservatism? What makes them different from MA/CT?

On social issues, most of them do whatever the Vatican tells them to do. We have the highest percentage of Roman Catholics in the country so whoever is the Bishop of the Diocese of Providence has a lot of sway. That's why all opposition to marriage equality came from Democrats. One of the reasons it took so long for us to pass marriage equality was our Senate president cared more about what the Vatican had to say about marriage equality than what her own constituents thought.  I also believe it's about 50/50 pro-choice/anti-choice in Democratic caucus in the state house.

On economic issues, it stems from being a one party state since the 1930s. It is extremely difficult to be elected to any statewide office (sans governor) unless you are a Democrat. Most state legislature districts are the same way. Due to this, everyone runs as a Democrat regardless of their political views. In most suburban and rural districts (and even urban if you're in Woonsocket!) the Democratic primary boils down to "who can be the most conservative?" These of the sort of areas that in a more purple state like Pennsylvania or Ohio would easily go to Republicans, but due to party loyalty people keep voting for Democrats.

The chair of the RI Democratic Party is also inept and a coward. If a large chunk of Democrats in say Ohio or Wisconsin started pulling the anti-union and tax cuts for the wealthy crap the Democrats do in this state, you can bet there'd be a primary challenge.

It almost sounds like a reverse Wyoming.

Republicans in WY try to out-liberal each other?