A surge in Democratic candidates in Trump-friendly St. Charles County
When Patrice Billings retired as a police helicopter pilot nearly a decade ago, her former chief sent her a lovely note thanking her for her service and for representing the department with high standards.
Earlier this year, she called him with an unlikely request. Billings is running as a Democrat for a state Senate seat in deep-red St. Charles County. She knows her former chief is a conservative. She took a risk and called him to make her case.
“You know I’m a Republican,” he told her. But he listened to what the first-time candidate had to say.
Billings, who has lived in her district for 33 years, says it was easier to come out as gay than as a Democrat in this largely conservative community. After the last election she decided she couldn’t stand by the sidelines any longer. She saw the Legislature failing to properly fund schools or address crises like the opioid epidemic.
Read more: https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/parenting/aisha-sultan/sultan-a-surge-in-democratic-candidates-in-trump-friendly-st/article_a166664a-975a-5af0-9b3c-964ba5149622.html