A major decision awaits us in just a few weeks. For many people, political party is the sole determining factor in deciding whom to vote for regardless of a candidate’s qualifications, but that has never really mattered to me. I have always voted for or against a candidate based on a combination of factors such as character, platform, background, integrity, etc. I have donated to and voted for candidates in both parties over the years. The R or D behind their name was not so important to me, but I am beginning to reconsider that thought.
Twenty-five years ago, I had zero understanding of what R or D meant or what the two parties stood for. That changed when I was named in a frivolous medical malpractice lawsuit. Repairing our legal system in the area of medical malpractice became a driving force for me, and I became a one issue voter. Given that Republicans were the party that recognized the need for tort reform, I gravitated to that side of the aisle. My political advocacy was born and I began to speak out in support of specific Republican candidates. That was well before Donald Trump came along.
Over the years, the issue of tort reform has moved towards the back burner. Multiple other issues including but not limited to reproductive rights, access to health care, physician autonomy, and third party interference have gradually taken center stage. More recently, with the rise of MAGA, basic human decency in a candidate has become perhaps the most critical factor in my decision making.
But I now have a dilemma.
I live in Congressional District 1, the swingiest county in the swingiest state. I have supported Brian Fitzpatrick for years. I believe him to be an honorable man, and I remain convinced that he tries to do what he thinks is best for his constituents. That is extremely important to me even though I do not always agree with his policy positions. I was not happy with his first vote on the Big Beautiful Bill, which allowed it to pass to the Senate, although he did vote against the final bill. Some would argue that this was merely political expediency and that he only voted against the bill when he knew his vote did not matter. I disagree. He has gone against President Trump on more than one occasion. He has been supportive of Ukraine and has strongly opposed the 1.8 billion dollar anti-weaponization fund. Furthermore he is willing to listen. When I text him, he responds quickly and we can have a dialogue even on issues that we disagree on. Having direct access to my representative matters to me.
Having said that, the R behind his name is beginning to pose a problem for me. Despite my respect for Brian, the R behind his name aligns him with many politicians for whom I hold only contempt. House Speaker Mike Johnson comes immediately to mind. That is especially relevant today, given Johnson’s recent decision to send Congress home to avoid a vote on the impeachment of Pete Hegseth. Johnson has the power to make that decision because there is a Republican majority in the House. The R behind Brian’s name helps to enable this. Furthermore, despite Brian’s bipartisanship, the R behind his name supports an administration who has demonstrated an astonishing lack of basic decency
So I am faced with a tough decision: How much weight should I give to the R or the D in evaluating a candidate? That has been a non-factor for me previously, but it has become quite relevant in the face of what the Republican Party has become. This is not the same party that existed 25 years ago.
I think this is something that we all need to take into consideration in a few weeks, as we watch the current administration dismantle our country from within. I am no longer convinced that the R or D behind a candidate’s name is irrelevant.
I have not made my decision yet, but I recognize we clearly cannot continue down the current path we are on. Removing Mike Johnson and others like him from positions of power is critical and if that means voting against a Congressman I like, that may simply be the price I have to pay. The alternative is simply too costly in too many ways.
