“In one-party system, you have one-party. In two-party system, you have two parties. In multi-party system, you have more than two parties.” — Grand Valley Political Science Prof. Sunjook Junn.

These parts for a very long time have been regarded as the domain of a one-party system, the Republican Party. It’s extremely rare for anyone with a “D” affixed to the name on the ballot to win much of anything.

Yet I’ve covered local political contests for more than 45 years, and I have to say this one is the weirdest I’ve seen. I’m seeing unusually aggressive Democratic campaigns in Allegan, Kent and Barry Counties in races that customarily have been regarded as GOP cakewalks. To be sure, the jury’s still out, but perhaps 2020 will not be such a yawner.

Our neighbor to the east, Barry County, has not had a county-wide Democratic official since Hector was a pup. I personally know, because I worked in Hastings for 19 years.

Yet I have noticed quite a number of yard signs supporting Democrat Jordan Brehm for Register of Deeds. His signs are everywhere, and what might be surprising is where some of the signs are placed. Many of those who support Brehm are the very same people who routinely use the services of the Register of Deeds office, such as realtors, local government officials, title examiners, and even surveyors. They normally do not support Democrat challengers.

One life-long Republican official said, “Against all odds, I’d place my wager on Brehm because Barbara Hurless, the incumbent Republican, has had such a terribly bad term of office since the 2016 election. In her current term, managing to turn her elective office upside down.

Ms. Hurless’ policy focus shifted from public-service to general fund revenue-enhancement almost immediately.

So what once was safe politically may no longer be.

On another front, consider the bold treatise submitted last month by Allegan County Democratic Drain Commissioner candidate Mark Ludwig, who carefully and painstakingly outlined a strategy against future flooding problems. He also called out incumbent Denise Medemar for not having any potential solution at all.

It could be a longshot and it could be argued that voters on the downside of the ballot don’t really care about issues. They like the way things and want to keep them that way.

The third example is one that has given me my comeuppance in the past — the 72^nd Legislative District, which takes in the City of Wayland and the townships of Wayland, Leighton, Dorr and Gaines, and the City of Kentwood.

Incumbent Steve Johnson in 2018 made a fool out of me by winning a contested GOP primary with 74% of the vote. I have now come to believe I misjudged the Republican Party that since 2016 has marched in lockstep with President Donald Trump. That GOP has no use for moderates and insists on loyalty to the standard bearer.

Yet I also have noticed that Johnson’s percentage of the total vote in the general election has slipped in a customary stronghold. In days gone by, Dem challengers struggled to get as much as 35 percent. Democrat Steve Shoemaker crossed the milestone of 40 percent in a losing cause in 2016. Democrat Ron Draayer increased that level of support to 43.4% in 2018.

I know I was dead wrong in 2018 to suggest Johnson might be in trouble in the GOP primary two years ago, but political junkies might want to keep on eye on the race for the 72^nd District. I consider community activist and organizer Lily Cheng-Schulting a darkhorse.

By the way, has anyone ever seen State Rep. Johnson wearing a mask? I haven’t, though his video advertisement boasts about him protecting local citizens during the pandemic.