To be most successful with a republican audience a candidate should avoid using the phrase, small government. Unfortunately, many republican candidates are in the party because a democrat in the same voting district has first dibs for the democrat nomination for the position in question.
Despite all attempts to camouflage their democrat, liberal, progressive tendencies for these RINO'S the allure of the power is too great to resist.
They will do anything, even pretend to be republicans to taste that power.
To be fair I guess it can happen to a republican. A republican could pretend to be a democrat, but it is less likely.

For example, Charlie Criss of Florida, he professed republicanism and practiced it as best he could, and then lost as a republican to a more conservative republican. It would be interesting to know why he didn't opt at that point to be more conservative than his opponent, but it is history and alas the choices we mortals make we have to live with until at least the next election. Instead, he chose to become independent. I detect a wishy-washy uncertain attitude with this decision. As I mentioned, he could have gone for the image of a leader with strong principles. Perhaps strong principles are not understood by politicians. They do require conviction, a strong will and excellent moral compass. I wonder which of those characteristics Charlie is weak on. Independents can't run on principles. Isn't that why they call themselves independent? I'm sure independents will dispute my opinion. I am sure they would stake their principles on their self confidence that they are probably positive that they can make the principled decisions based on a morally relative compass. By definition with his decision Criss chose not to commit. He wasn't successful with his election attempt as an independent, so he pulled the full chameleon switch and decided he is a democrat. I wonder if the mental gymnastics required to achieve such changes in a person's values are similar to the experience that a person goes through when they are contemplating a sex change? Their thoughts might include intermediate mental musings in the realm of transvestitism as a person morph into the new identity.

Added to Gab. March 11, 2023.
Added to GETTR. March 11, 2023.
Added to Locals. March 11, 2023.
Added to Truth Social. March 11, 2023.