An Idaho Democrat’s take on this year’s elections: Vote for the person, not the party

Another midterm election has come and gone in America. The outcome was surprising, I think to many, as midterm elections generally fare better for the party that does not control the White House.

But not this year. This year there was no national red tsunami as many political pundits were pushing. What does this mean for our very red state of Idaho? Let’s dig into that.

I grew up in Idaho, I am a sixth-generation Idahoan who worked in Idaho politics for nearly two decades — and as a Democrat! I’m used to not always winning but knowing I followed my own moral compass. Most friends and colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, abide by that same principle.

I do not live in a fantasy. Democrats in Idaho have a hard time winning elections. With the tremendous amount of growth we’ve seen in Idaho, we know it’s mostly non-Democrats moving here. There have been news stories about Moscow and North Idaho researching the extreme right-wing moving to Idaho as “political refugees.” We read about it on social media and of course, we meet each other as neighbors and hear these stories.

Idaho Democrats have always campaigned for all Idahoans. Issues like quality public education, fully funding our universities and community colleges, reliable and affordable health care, equal rights for all, keeping our public lands public and creating safe communities. But above all, we want to represent every Idahoan, not just the elite. After all, the Democratic Party is known as the big-tent party.

I know, from analyzing voter turnout numbers, Republicans voted for Democrats this year, especially in legislative races. And Democrats voted for Republican candidates, those who weren’t pushing hateful messaging. It’s imperative, especially in a small state like ours, to vote for the person, not the party.

I believe the country followed this suit. Most of the national messaging of divisive hatred spoon fed to Americans coming from some Republicans didn’t work. It also didn’t work in many Idaho Republican primaries, proving that Republicans can stop pandering to the worst of their base and start paying more attention to the majority of Idahoans.

I realize that Ammon Bundy was able to garner significant votes, but I truly hope that traditional Idaho Republicans don’t think now is the time to embrace those voters who voted for that vitriolic and divisive rhetoric. Now is the time to squash that. As someone who truly loves this state and the people here I, like so many, ask them to not support dogmatism. I don’t want to regret voting for some Republicans, and I know a lot of other Idahoans don’t either. God bless Idaho.