“I don’t like either candidate.”
“I refuse to vote for the lesser of two evils.”
Frustration is understandable. Election season can wear us down, especially when the choices on our ballot leave us disappointed.
That disappointment is legitimate. We should care about a candidate’s character, judgment, and qualifications. A Republican label does not put anyone beyond criticism.
But casting a vote does not require us to set aside every concern—or pretend to feel enthusiasm we don’t.
A vote is a decision about who will exercise the responsibilities of an office. It does not have to be a personal endorsement of everything that candidate has said or done.
For Republicans considering a candidate they aren’t excited about, they should consider the broader consequences. How would that person use the office? How closely do their priorities align with yours? How would their election affect the work of other Republicans you support?
In legislative races, an additional Republican seat can help build support for shared priorities. In other offices, the relationship depends on the responsibilities involved. Either way, looking beyond one personality can help us assess what an election’s outcome would mean.
That does not erase concerns about an individual candidate. It puts those concerns alongside the other consequences of our choice.
Each voter must decide how much weight to give those considerations. But choosing an imperfect candidate after honestly weighing the alternatives need not be shameful. A difficult decision can still be a conscientious one.
Those decisions matter only if we participate. Staying home means leaving the outcome to those who show up. If we want Republican candidates to win and advance the priorities we share, we need to turn out and vote.
Our local races deserve our attention, too. They affect decisions close to home, and we should not assume our preferred candidates will win without our participation. Disappointment is understandable, but this election still deserves our time, our consideration, and our votes.
And voting for someone does not end our responsibility—or surrender our right to expect better.
We can ask questions, communicate concerns, build relationships, pray for those who serve, and hold them accountable. We can work to recruit stronger candidates for future elections.
You don’t have to agree with a candidate on every issue to cast a thoughtful vote. You can acknowledge your differences, keep your standards, and decide that this person is the better choice for the responsibilities of the office. Supporting a candidate doesn’t mean surrendering your judgment.
Consider the Republican candidates in every race on your ballot, including those farther down the ballot who may receive less attention. Our voter guide can help you learn who is running and prepare to make informed choices.
View our Republican voter guide.
Show up.
Vote Republican, top to bottom.
Get involved.