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Three sheriffs who were once powerful Democrats have decided to leave the party amid the significant rise in anti-police extremism and radicalization among the Left.
Numerous Democrats have even voiced support for dismantling or defunding law enforcement.
Sheriff Chip Shuler of Smyth County, Sheriff John McClanahan of Buchanan County and Sheriff Brian Hieatt of Tazewell County have officially switched to the Republican Party.
They have filed membership applications for the Republican Committee, which have been approved.
Shuler explained, “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.”
“As sheriff, it has been difficult to watch my deputies try to move forward during this unprecedented assault on our profession. We remain an honorable profession and should not be judged by the bad acts of a few,” he continued.
Smyth County Republican Committee chair Adam Tolbert responded, “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 https://www.analyzingamerica.org/wp-admin/profile.phpCounty.”
McClanahan said, “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.”
“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,” he noted.
Hieatt said, “After much prayer, thought and deliberation, I am giving my resignation for the Tazewell County Democratic Committee. I appreciate the friendships and support I have had through the years by being affiliated with this party.”
“[H]owever, I feel the Democratic Party’s interests, especially on the state and national levels, have continued to rapidly go in the opposite direction of the beliefs that my wife and I share,” he said.
“I’m not saying our locally elected Democratic officials are bad. What has upset me is on the state and national level. I think our locally elected Democrats truly care for our people in Tazewell County, but the ones in the state and national level do not care about our citizens,” Hieatt said.
