Any other former Republican voters here? (My Story)
From the time I registered to vote at age 19 until my late 30s, I was a registered Republican. My parents and grandparents had always voted that way, and it always seemed to work for them. I listened to Glenn Beck (though I liked him much better when he talked about topics other than politics). Still, I never quite fit the right-wing conservative mold.
Fast forward to Sunday, October 11, 2015. I was sexually assaulted by a man who I had thought was my friend...someone I had known (or thought I knew) for nearly a decade. I adored this man...and had trusted him implicitly. He gaslit, manipulated and violated me for another 8 months. He was a very charismatic man and knew how to keep me in line so I would keep his dirty secrets...until I unwittingly did something to make him mad and he cruelly dumped me. He hated me after that...especially when I confided in others what he had done to me.
At the same time, that horrible man named T**** had thrown his political hat in the ring. I didn't think he had a hope in hell of winning the Republican primary, let alone the nomination. Still a registered R, I voted for Kasich in the primary. In October 2016, I saw the man who hurt me for the last time. The same weekend, a certain Access Hollywood tape dropped to the public.
Because of my own intensely private problem, I was not following the election of 2016 nearly as closely as I would have otherwise. I did hear about the Access Hollywood tape...and was devastated. Still, I had so internalized the message from the pit of hell that Christians only vote Republican. If you don't vote Republican, you're not a Christian. On Election Day, I literally cried in the voting booth. The messages in my heart and head were at war...and I caved. I regret that moment deeply...even though my vote wouldn't have made a difference in the long run, especially here in Ohio. Of course, I couldn't even comprehend all the horrible things that were to come and certainly wouldn't have voted R if I had had even an inkling of it.
Long story short, at the beginning of 2017 I began intensive therapy to deal with my assault. Over the next two years, I would travel from my home in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland into the city proper. I was assigned to a counselor who I had been told over the phone was a bit "unconventional".
We were quite a match - the shy, sheltered white girl from the suburbs and the outspoken Black great-grandmother from inner city Cleveland who also happened to be a Baptist minister. I didn't realize at the time that she was planting seeds in me. She was a Christian woman who didn't hide her disdain for T**** in the few times he came up in conversation. She was compassionate but tough...a big proponent of the "teach a man to fish" philosophy. I wish everyone could find a Dr. W....and she stayed my counselor until she retired in spring 2019.
During the time I was in counseling with Dr. W., #MeToo happened and so did the Kavanaugh confirmations. When I read an op-ed about how T**** went with Kavanaugh not in spite of his sexual assault allegations but BECAUSE of them - that did it. Then the completely inept, callous way T**** dealt with covid (essential worker, home health aide here) finished off any possibility of me voting Republican ever again.
In October 2020, I drove to the board of elections building and fully masked, cast my vote for Biden/Harris...and lightning did not strike me. There was no turning back. The shrinking violet became a full-fledged feminist. I have no tolerance for bullies, those who sexually abuse, and those who enable. I found my voice. One of the things I want to do in this next year is help register young people, most especially young women, to vote.
I would be interested in hearing stories from others who escaped the Grand Old Patriarchy!! Thanks for letting me share mine.
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I'm glad you escaped the fundies and have a life as a human being. 
Gave me goose bumps. I'm a sucker for someone passionate about doing good.
to DU!
...Dr. W. reminds me a lot of an older Joy Reid. The mannerisms are uncanny. 
She challenged me in ways no one ever had - before or since!! I am forever in her debt.
and well Written, TSExile. What a long winding journey you've had into the Light!
Welcome to DU.. how did you find us? 
I hope you do talk to many, many young women. Religious ones especially 
But only because my Dad was a republican. (Mom had died when I was in high school. She claimed to be a republican but I wouldn't be surprised if she secretly voted D sometimes.)
I voted for Reagan's second term in my first ever presidential election. (My husband hates it when I mention that.) After college I moved to California and started thinking for myself. Within 18 months I left the church and switched to the Democratic party. In '88 I campaigned for Dukakis, and cried when he lost. Never looked back.
My three brothers still live in Texas and have always been Dems. They are definitely fighting the good fight on the front lines. I'm now an election worker in Colorado, and like you I plan to try to run some voter registration drives in the next year. My plan is to sneak over to Boebert's district and go to some high schools to do VRD's.
And thank you for your compelling story. We’re lucky to have you
I was never a Republican but I grew up in a mostly Republic-conservative-midwestern family. When I became old enough to vote, I registered immediately but I didn't join a party. I stayed independent for over 40 years. I voted in almost every election, believing that I would choose the "best" candidate regardless of party.
You know what? I never once voted for a Republican candidate. With one exception. When I lived in upstate New York I voted for Nelson Rockefeller for Governor. If he had lived to be the candidate for the Presidency, I probably would have voted for him then too. But that wasn't to be. Meanwhile I remained a liberal-thinking independent, always choosing the Dem candidate because they were always the best choice.
So what made me decide to finally join the Democrats, once and for all? When Hillary Clinton announced her candidacy in 2008.... I was so certain that I wanted her to win the primary that I finally jumped into the fray. That's when I joined the Democrat party, and never looked back. We all know what happened, she was beaten by Obama. But she shook hands with Obama and supported him for President. I stuck with it and voted for Obama TWICE.
In 2016 I finally got my wish to cast my vote for Hillary. I realize now that never in my life will I ever choose a Repuke over a Democrat and I don't even have to lay out the reasons. They're so obvious. When you live in an area that's dominated by Democrats (I'm in the city of Pittsburgh) then it's important to pay attention to primary races. By the time we get to the general election in November, it's all but decided, and one person's vote doesn't matter so much. Voting in your party's primary is often the most important choice to make.
Best of luck to you, and please keep contributing your personal stories on DU. You'll get a lot of support from people like us.
I’m sorry your journey was so rough and painful.
I’m glad you got help! Sounds like that Dr. W made a big difference along the way.
There are soooooo many souls here with kind hearts and broad shoulders. You’re in a good place when you ever need to unburden. LOTS of wisdom here, and some of it has been hard-won, so you can feel safe in that understanding.
...I am seeing that already!! Lots of wonderful people are here.