@liquid_clear I think this is the strategy that the left should be using when engaging with electoral politics
As you identified, conservative and libertarian candidates have been utilizing this strategy for some time now. The "blue-dog" democrat is this, a cryptorepublican or more accurately cryptoconservative
Using whatever party has the district or region gerrymandered seems sensible
And its not like lying about what you will do in office, and doing something different is illegal