‘His social views were liberal.’ Candidate met with Dems before launching GOP run
Three
"He was basically trying to feel us out and see if we'd support him for
"When he was talking to us, it was all the right stuff," Dragoo said. "He supports sensible gun laws. He supports labor unions. ... He sounded like a
Watkins confirmed that he met with Dragoo in
"I was not at any point looking to run as a Democrat, nor was I ever approached about running as a Democrat," Watkins said in a phone interview. "I was taking some meetings with political types ... and an associate advised me to reach out to Ty. At some point, I realized he had arranged the meeting to take place at the Democratic HQ. I didn't back down from that. I've met with insurgents and warlords."
Watkins said the conversation did delve into a broad range of policy issues, but he denied that he professed any progressive policy positions during the meeting.
"I remember them broadening the discussion to include more general policy, liberal policy, but I didn't participate," Watkins said.
Among the seven-person
Watkins is a registered Republican, but last year's local elections in
Watkins, who also has lived in
The Star could find no evidence that Watkins cast a ballot before last year, and the 41-year-old candidate said he could not remember if he had ever registered before in any state. He said during his time in the Army he was discouraged from participating in politics.
"We just stayed out of politics," he said. "...I don't remember if I was registered or not. ... I don't recall. I was a young Army officer and that's what my focus was," said Watkins, who left the Army in 2004, according to his LinkedIn page.
Despite the fact that he can't remember voting, Watkins said he was well-known for his conservative views as a graduate student at
"I had just gotten done with a master's degree at Harvard, where I had argued countless times against countless
Watkins said an adviser had told him that Dragoo was a transportation lobbyist. He said he met with Dragoo to learn more about transportation policy.
Dragoo serves as state legislative director for the
Dragoo contacted The Star about the 2017 meeting after seeing Watkins voice support for a
Watkins "totally bamboozled me," Dragoo said.
He also said that it was always clear that the discussion was being framed as a conversation about a potential run by Watkins as a Democrat and that Watkins adamantly voiced support for labor unions during that meeting.
"So let me get this straight, when we said, 'Meet at the
Dragoo and other participants said the two-hour meeting had been set up by the
Wakins "was kind of feeling out whether or not he was interested in running as a Democrat or Republican," said Domme, who said he had met the candidate through mutual friends.
Coats recalled that Watkins expressed fiscal conservatism but more liberal views on social issues, such as LGBT rights.
"He said that he thought he was too much of a moderate, so he was really interested in being in the Democratic Party," she said.
Watkins confirmed that Coats participated in the meeting.
"I was surprised that Sarah was there," he said. "I didn't understand why she was there."
Watkins denied that Domme participated in the meeting. All of the other participants in the meeting say Domme was there and he set it up.
"The politics were middle of the road to me," Domme said of Watkins. "I didn't expect him to immediately swing to the
When Trump nominated federal Judge
"I urge the swamp politicians in the
Coats recently accused Watkins of being a fraud on social media because of his alleged policy changes since the meeting.
"I'd say it again to his face," Coats said, contending that voters of both parties should be skeptical of his positions.
"I don't know if he was a plant or just a really bad actor, or if he's just flipping. I wouldn't trust the guy."
Watkins announced his campaign as a Republican in November, four months after the meeting took place.
Shortly after that, he was named to the
The NRCC did not comment on Watkins' meeting with
Dragoo said he tried to persuade Watkins to pursue other offices as a Democrat based on his resume as a West Point graduate who served in
Dragoo said Watkins began asking highly specific questions about Davis' campaign and his level of support among
Watkins confirmed that he asked questions about Davis during the meeting, but he said that he did not recall specifically what he asked.
He also contended that "the only reason they're trying to out me" about last year's meeting is the because the
Watkins' father, a
"If he was liberal, he wouldn't see a dime of my money and he knows that," the elder Watkins told The Star earlier this month.
Dragoo also claimed that Watkins touted the fact that his fiancee,
On the campaign trail, Watkins has strongly opposed abortion.
"I'm proud to be 100% pro-life. I love my fiancee. But we don't agree on everything. Especially this," Watkins told The Star in April. "Attacks on my family and smears from scared establishment insiders are swamp campaigning 101."
The author of the blog, Danedri Herbert, has now joined
Neither Coats nor Domme specifically remembered Watkins discussing his fiancee's work for
Watkins, who married Liu this year, denied that he brought her up during the meeting with the
"I'm not pro-choice at all. I'm unequivocally pro-life. And I don't recall saying anything," he said.
Liu, who works in
Liu also gave
Watkins said Liu splits her time between
"I love my wife. We staunchly disagree on some key issues," he said. "These issues are not up for debate between she and I. She respects me as a thinker and a leader."
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