With the local Republican Primary wrapped up, the outcome of three races may have seemed surprising to some observers.

Three incumbents went down to defeat. In this case it was not a battle between Democrats and Republicans. Alabama is largely a stronghold for the Grand Old Party these days, which made last week’s runoffs interesting.

Four years ago, Alabama residents witnessed a massive Republican sweep in which voters largely pulled the party lever and went home. A lot of stalwart Democrats were sent packing and may not find a place in office for several years to come.

In this age it’s not unusual to see incumbents sent home. But after Republicans gained so much power four years ago, this election came down to who party supporters felt best to hold office, as opposed to running out a group of Democrats.

Interestingly, the incumbents who were voted out last week did not carry any significant blemishes on their public services records, or at least none that came to light. Nonetheless, Republican voters, who currently dominate Cullman County, had a chance to look closely at candidates within their own party. In a sense, the local conservative movement reached a point of maturity as voters had something to consider other than a party vote.

Some Republican officials moan that Democrats cross over and vote in GOP primaries. That’s mostly speculation or sour grapes when a certain candidate favored by the party is facing a difficult reelection bid. It’s important to remember, however, that political parties do not own the election process. People have the right and freedom to vote in a primary of their choosing. If that’s where all the candidates for an office are positioned, it would clearly be a violation of the right to vote to try to keep a Democrat out of the polling place. Each election a voter may choose which primary he wants to use for casting his vote. Anyone who would challenge that or try to box voters into a category misses the point of the foundation and rights of this country.

Republicans are in power now. If some Democrats participated in that process, that’s just fine. Most people have independent thoughts when it comes to candidates. Parties matter less to voters than the actual ability of the candidates who run for office. The truth is that neither party would have much influence without crossover voting through the history of this country. Ronald Reagan benefited from such voting. So did many others. Any attempt to dilute the will of the people in the voting process should be guarded against. Political parties are nothing more than platforms of ideas for voters to evaluate.