A recent Washington Post analysis found that a majority of Republican nominees for U.S. House, U.S. Senate and statewide offices to be decided next month – 299 in all – have either questioned or outright denied the results of the 2020 presidential election. This is alarming.

Most Republicans are fine people, who have patriotically served our country in countless ways. I’m a lifelong Democrat, and Republicans have never been my enemy. We peacefully drive our highways together, shop together, educate our children, operate our stores and factories, staff our hospitals and emergency services. Republicans are my neighbors and my friends and my relatives.

Unfortunately, because of Donald Trump’s sway over Republican officeholders and candidates, it is my belief that no Republican candidate can currently be trusted to hold office. Trump’s attacks on Republican dissenters are powerful dissuaders. Even Susan Collins, justifiably labeled a moderate Republican, is cowed from stating that she would not support Trump despite having voted to convict him of inciting insurrection.

I shudder at my own reductionism: If one rejects the unfounded allegation that the 2020 presidential election was stolen; if one opposes Trump’s stated intent to pardon convicted Jan. 6 insurrectionists; if one is alarmed by Trump’s assertion that he has the right of possession of highly classified federal materials, then it is imperative to not vote Republican – any Republican – this election cycle.

This too will pass; I look forward to resuming the luxury of evaluating candidates based on their individual merits and beliefs. That time is not now.

Fred Wolff
Cumberland

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