For the moderate majority of us, it is in our state and national interest to support reasonable centrists this fall. Vote for candidates who support super-majority issues like:
-A woman’s right to control her own body and reproductive health.
-Logical, impactful gun safety legislation: for example, banning the sale of assault rifles and handguns to anyone under 21.
-Defending voting rights & elections from unconstitutional, undemocratic fascist elements who deny results with no evidence. Vote for candidates who would be part of a coalition block of Senators and Representatives who will pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Bill.
In the long run, the divisive two party system should be reimagined. The more people that declare and register as independents will help drain the power of both warring parties, forcing needed reforms. The most important of those would be to allow for open primaries and ranked choice elections. This would dramatically increase the number of moderates competing and winning.
We face real threats now, though. A combination of closed primaries, modeling of lawless Trumpism, and gerrymandering have led to a bumper crop of far-right extremist candidates. These office seekers openly embrace and campaign on meritless & dangerous election-denying conspiracies, even encouraging violence towards political opponents, journalists, and their fellow Americans. They must be defeated this November.
While some far-left extremist views certainly exist on the Democratic side, that element is very small compared to the G.O.P. in terms of those running for office. The extremism just doesn’t manifest in the candidates who make it through the primary to run in the general election. You don’t hear any competitive Dem candidates in major elections around the country campaigning on defund the police, do you? Because there aren’t any. These competitive Dems aren’t running on tax the wealthy at a 90% rate or pushing for the abolishment of the military. Fringe ideas just don’t work as well.
Unlike on the right, where it has proven out, most of the time in state contests this season, that the crazier, the more Trumpier you are willing to be the better you do with Republican voters. For our country’s sake, hopefully this trend will begin to change this fall with the defeat of numerous aspiring right-wing, radical politicians. In Republican-controlled state after state these candidates are pushing total abortion ban bills that don’t even allow for exceptions in the case of rape or incest. This extremism is out of touch with the vast majority of Americans. But they don’t seem to care because these inhumane and backward positions appeal to their radical base that they are terrified of losing. They would certainly begin to do much better as a party in the long run if they meaningfully began to marginalize these voices.
In the meantime, check your voter registration, plan your vote, and vote this November 8th. The future of our 246 year old Democracy and women’s right to control their own bodies is in your hands. You’ve got this America, don’t screw it up.