OPINION: Vote your values, not your party affiliation

In recent conversations about how we might rescue Kootenai County politics from MAGA extremists, a friend’s words stayed with me:

“What is happening now in our nation is ungodly.” Then adding: “We don’t need anyone to give up their party affiliation. Just vote for the candidates who share our values and who will serve us better.”

Those statements describe where I believe many Kootenai County voters stand today.

They are not prepared to leave the Republican Party, but they have had more than enough of MAGA extremism.

Idaho MAGA promised to protect public lands, yet the governor recently rubber-stamped a plan to build data centers on our public property.

Idaho MAGA claims to favor small government, yet legislators and the attorney general insist on inserting the government into women’s most private healthcare decisions — even investigating members of their own party who dare to disagree.

MAGA pulls books off public library shelves and levels reckless accusations against librarians and public-school teachers.

Our Kootenai County MAGA officials march in lockstep with federal MAGA officials — and the federal record is just as troubling.

Federal MAGA promised to lower the cost of living. But their tariffs and wars caused inflation that forced the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates. This will make housing even less affordable. 

Federal MAGA assured us that immigration enforcement would target only the "worst of the worst," yet we have watched as constitutional due process rights are violated and non-violent individuals are swept into a network of privately run detention centers.

Most recently the president promised Americans $5,000 if Republicans win in November.

Voters can see right through his latest false “promise.” Reliable polls show that moderate Americans across all political parties are fed up.

But Kootenai County’s moderate Republicans do not have sufficient numbers to vote out the MAGA extremists alone. We all need each other. Our only way out of the wilderness is to link arms and hike together.

As we approach the November midterm election, local voters should keep this in mind. 

If you think there should be some check on the MAGA incumbents who represent us, your only choice is to vote Democratic.

You do not have to change your party registration to help put an end to MAGA. You need only recognize that our current elected state leaders no longer reflect traditional conservative values, nor do they act in our community's best interests.

Voters should instead look for the Democratic candidates on the ballot. Every single Democratic candidate supports public education, public libraries, and public lands. Every single Democratic candidate supports affordable healthcare, sensible housing solutions, and environmental stewardship. None of them toe the MAGA line.

When you receive your ballot, remember my friend's advice: “We don’t need anyone to give up their party affiliation. Just vote for the candidates who share our values and who will serve us better.”

Together, we can choose leadership over extremism.

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This will be my final column before the Nov. 3 election, as The Press suspends political commentary in the month leading up to the vote.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.