According to a study done by the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in 2023, “Republicans voted for conservative policies 76.71% of the time, while Democrats voted for liberal policies 87.40% of the time.”

The study concluded that, “Republicans run on conservative promises, but after they win more of them abandon the tough votes on key conservative policies when compared to Democrats whose first rule is to stick together. Our analysis shows how moderate Republicans broke apart on key issues like parental choice in education, securing strong voter ID, or putting a stop to COVID mandates.”

These Republicans may be willing to work across party lines and compromise on key policy issues. They squish when things get tough. According to politicaldictionary.com, the term “squish” is often used as a pejorative to describe a politician, typically within the context of their own party, who is perceived as weak or not adhering strictly to the party line.

Another interesting stat of the CPAC study was that the squishy Republicans lived in conservative states.

Citizens of Ottawa County have seen this very thing in conservative Ottawa County, when the 2021–22 Board of Commissioners—with 10 Republicans—abandoned the Party platform and voted to open an extremely progressive DEI department. This same board never even questioned the Democrat activist Health Department on COVID mandates, at least not in a public forum.

These squishy Republicans are basically an arm of the Democrat Party and what led the Ottawa County GOP to pass a “Resolution Holding Republican Party Candidates and Representatives Accountable,” which details the contents of the Party platform.

In Ottawa County it seems there are two varieties of Republicans. The first are those who stand for the Constitution, individual liberties, and the American citizen, and who don’t hesitate to be held accountable to the Republican platform.

The second are those who talk about unity and common good. They can be found attending events such as those of the Democrat-aligned League of Women Voters. They will campaign and vote with Democrats while completely avoiding being held accountable to the Republican Platform.

So while the Democrats stay steadfast to their progressive platform and push climate change mandates, DEI, trans rights, gay rights, abortion, free money, anti-capitalism, and the “common good,” many Republicans fold.

On February 15, 2024, the Ottawa County Republican Party (OCRP) voted unanimously to hold Party candidates and representatives accountable. They also passed a resolution to host a “countywide, delegate endorsement convention for the 2024 election cycle,” allowing elected Precinct Delegates to vote for the Republican candidates the OCRP would endorse for the 2024 election season.

According to the OCRP, all local candidates who filed as Republicans were sent an invitation to the GOP endorsement convention via the email they listed on their campaign filing.

• Paul Hudson and Michael Markey for 3rd Congressional District
• Brendan Muir for 4th Congressional District
• Gregory Todd for Prosecuting Attorney
• Jon Anderson for Sheriff
• Ben Genser for Treasurer
• Gretchen Cosby for County Commissioner, District 1
• Lucy Ebel for County Commissioner, District 2
• Joe Moss for County Commissioner, District 5
• Kendra Wenzel for County Commissioner, District 6
• Rachel Atwood for County Commissioner, District 7
• Sylvia Rhodea and David Lee Morren for County Commissioner, District 8
• Roger Belknap for County Commissioner, District 9
• Jason Koert for County Commissioner, District 10
• Allison Miedema and Richard Van Dop for County Commissioner, District 11

• Bill Huizenga for 4th Congressional District
• Cheryl Clark for Treasurer
• Jordan Jorritsma for County Commissioner, District 2
• Philip Kuyers for County Commissioner, District 9

A Republican is a candidate who stands on the Republican platform and isn’t scared to be held accountable by the Republican Party.