Commentary: Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

by Kurt Christensen

There is a phenomenon in America that never gets talked about. In states with heavy Democrat majorities in the state Legislatures, there is rarely any real dissent. All issues are fought within very narrow ranges of opinion from Left to very Far-Left. On fundamental questions, there is simply only one voice. But in states with heavy Republican majorities the exact opposite is the case. In those Very Red states, dissent is the norm and failure to reach ongoing consensus on the issues of the day has become expected.

Why? Why do we see such unanimity on the Left and such fractiousness on the Right?

What we have seen in the 2025 sessions of legislatures across the country exposes the reality and is now impossible to deny. Many members of State Legislatures who refer to themselves as “Republicans” or even “Conservatives” are actually in fact Democrats, wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Just a few examples will show the problem. In Tennessee this year, after Governor Bill Lee had engaged in a series of brutal primaries against left of center members of the General Assembly, he was able to enact a far-reaching school choice measure. But while Republicans claim 75 of the 99 members of the House of Representatives, the Lee school choice measure was enacted with only 54 Yes votes – 21 fewer than there are Republicans. In the State Senate, the situation was just as bad with only 20 of 27 Republicans voting for school choice.

This pattern has been repeated over and over again so far this year. In Utah, a landmark prohibition on collective bargaining in the public sector was enacted and signed into law. But of the 61 Republicans in the House, only 42 voted in favor. In the Senate, the 16 to 13 enactment meant that a third of Republicans opposed the common sense measure.

As the nation has become more divided, those forces looking to drag their feet or outright stop meaningful reforms have simply thrown away their “Democrat” labels and run for office as Republicans. This duplicitous move has been backed up by the whole structure of the Left with the NEA teachers’ union as the primary vehicle to install false members into office.

At one point many years ago there were Democrats that supported gun-owners rights, were pro-life on abortion and advocated sensible education and social policy positions. Not anymore. There is always a one-way ratchet; always moving Left with no consideration of other positions allowed. I dare you – find a Democrat member of a State Legislature who openly opposes abortion, supports real and significant tax reduction, stands stoutly for the 2nd Amendment and opposes the incessantly destructive demands of the public sector unions and tell me how long you think they will remain in office. One term? At best two terms? Such apostates are weeded out very quickly and methodically.

Now, think what it takes to rid Republican Caucuses in the most conservative states of people who daily give aid and comfort to their opponents. It is not impossible as Governor Lee and others have shown but it takes a very concerted effort and a huge amount of resources; monetary and talent wise.

What is to be done? How can a truth in labeling rule be established for candidates running for State Legislatures and, for that matter, Congress? How can people know what they are getting?

One way, and probably the best way, is to put these people to the test. The Legislatures need to be made to vote on controversial bills that separate the sheep from the goats. In Tennessee, the school choice bill had gone down to defeat in earlier years. But names were taken and the actions of those siding with the radical teachers’ union were exposed to the public, leading to many replacements. That same exact formula was utilized in Texas with the same positive result.

The old “wisdom” was not to kick a hornet’s nest, leave all the hot button issues alone and keep winning on the basis of sound policy in the center and competent administration. The problem with this is that no significant change occurs. It isn’t even a tiny incremental change, it is treading water in hopes of not sinking. But if nothing changes, at some point the public sees no reason to keep the same ole guys in power and eventually hands it over to the radicals.

We at the Institute for Education Reform embrace this approach. In the 2025 sessions of Legislatures we have pushed for real reforms that take power away from teachers’ union bosses. We have sided with those that want to see real reform, not phony pretend changes on the margins. And this is what we have learned. Until the RINOs, and teachers’ union advocates in GOP-clothes are replaced, nothing serious will happen. Only the aggressive actions like the steadfast leaders in Utah and Tennessee can bring about real change for the better and that can only happen by kicking hornet’s nest every day.

It is not pleasant and it is not without risk. But there is no reward without risk. So, as the second half of the 2025 legislative sessions kick off, keep an eye out for proposals and ideas that force the status quo to concede. Learn who votes how and look to learn what is being done in your name. The course forward will become crystal clear from that point on.

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Kurt Christensen is the Chairman Institute for Education Reform.