GW Bush ran for the the US Congress in 1972 in the 19th district of Texas. Guess who defeated him that year running on the democratic ticket. Kent Hance. He served for three terms and then ran in the democratic primary for the US Senate seat being vacated by John Tower and lost to Lloyd Doggett by 273 votes. He switched to the GOP in 1985.
I wonder if Zell “The Party Moved into my basement” Miller (GA) had switched to the GOP if he would have been called names?
I don’t think so.