Preston doesn't have to do any convincing - the national republican party might as well be literal demons, so you could the most reasonable republican ever and

Preston doesn't have to do any convincing - the national republican party might as well be literal demons, so you could the most reasonable republican ever and people would refuse to vote for them just to prevent the national republican party from even having an iota of more power. National strategy has effectively poisoned local races. You could run as independent but you would be a very uphill battle against very well funded opponents. Ultimately there seems to be little hope for progressive economic ideas.