This essay is for Republicans who feels lost and left behind by a party that has abandoned its moral compass and core conservative principles. Under the influence of MAGA, the party has embraced behaviors and political ideas that would make Ronald Reagan turn in his grave. And let’s face it, many of them are just jerks. If you’re nodding along so far, this is for you.
I’m not here to convert Trump supporters or convince conservatives to become bleeding-heart liberals. Trump supporters aren’t grounded in policy or conservative principles anymore—it’s tied to a cult of personality. My argument isn’t about abandoning conservatism, but about recognizing that the real conservative values—like respect for the rule of law, decency, and responsibility—are embodied by candidates like Kamala Harris.
“The Democrats are as patriotic as us. They love this country just as much as we do. And they are as eager to defend American values at home and abroad as we conservatives have ever been.”
—Representative Adam Kinzinger, Republican and current member of Congress
Yes, Harris is a liberal, but she’s also someone with a long history of standing up for law and order. As a prosecutor, she went after some of the worst criminals, the kind of bad actors that we all agree need to be brought to justice. Whether it’s violent criminals, drug traffickers, or corporations engaging in fraud, Harris has built a career on protecting communities and holding people accountable. These are not just liberal values or conservative values—they are American values.
”Harris is legitimately a joyful, optimistic leader. She cares about policy, yes, but she also cares about people an about how that policy affects real people, not just the members of Mar-a-Lago.”
—Ana Navarro, Republican TV Personality
In this race, it’s not about choosing between liberal or conservative—it’s about choosing between someone who believes in accountability and the rule of law, and someone who does not. Trump and MAGA represent a complete disregard for the very principles that hold our society together. They attack law enforcement, undermine the courts, and spread lies to weaken trust in our democratic institutions.
Kamala Harris, on the other hand, has proven that she respects the rule of law and will uphold it. She’s not running to divide us, but to protect the values we all hold dear—justice, fairness, and safety. That’s why, as Republicans who believes in decency, democracy, and the rule of law, voting for someone like Harris is the right thing to do. Not because we agree on every issue, but because we agree on the things that matter most.
“Trump has no empathy, no morals, and no fidelity to the truth. When the cameras are off, he mocks his supporters. He calls them basement-dwellers.”
–Trump White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham
While we may have differences of opinion on policy, both liberals and conservatives ultimately share the same core values: justice, law and order, and protecting freedom and democracy. Kamala Harris has upheld these principles in her career. She has gone after criminals that threaten the safety and security of our communities, upholding justice and fairness, which transcends political labels.
Trump’s refusal to accept the results of a fair election, his spreading of the “big lie,” and the way he channeled anger into the January 6th insurrection shows just how unfit he is for office. On January 6th, as police officers were attacked, lawmakers were threatened, and chants calling for the hanging of his own vice president echoed through the Capitol, Trump remained silent. His inaction, in the face of such violence, is not just a failure of leadership—it’s a moral failure. Over 140 police officers were injured defending the Capitol, some of whom identify as Republicans. Five officers ultimately lost their lives in the aftermath. And Trump, who loves to use law enforcement and military imagery as props for his rallies, left those brave men and women to fend for themselves while he watched the chaos unfold.
“I have an urgent message for the majority of Americans who, like me, are in the political middle: John McCain’s Republican party is gone and we don’t owe a damn thing to what’s been left behind.”
—Republican Mayor John Giles, Mesa, Arizona
Trump’s hypocrisy extends beyond just using law enforcement as a prop. He projects an image of strength while constantly portraying himself as a victim, weak and under attack by the “deep state,” the media, and even his own party when they don’t bend to his will. This is the man who claims to stand for law and order, but refuses to defend the very officers who risked their lives for our democracy.
Rejecting MAGA is not about abandoning conservatism or Republicanism. MAGA candidates abandoned the Republican Party. Voting against them is how you reclaim the mantle of true Republican leadership. It’s how you restore a party built on the values of liberty, justice, and the rule of law—the very principles on which America was founded. MAGA has betrayed fiscal responsibility, decimated America’s standing with its international allies, and embraced divisive populism that undermines the very things real conservative Republicans hold dear.
”Being inside Trump’s White House was terrifying. But what keeps me up at night is what’ll happen if he gets back there. The guardrails are gone, the adults that were in the room the first time resigned or were fired.”
—Olivia Troye, Counter terrorism Advisor to former VP Mike Pence
By voting against MAGA candidates, you are restoring the Republicans as the political party it once was: a legitimate competitor in the marketplace of democratic ideas. Sitting this election out, voting third party, or going along with a morally bankrupt movement that’s Republican in name only will not protect these values. A third-party vote in this election will only empower MAGA extremists.
“Our party is not civil and conservative. It’s chaotic and crazy,” he said to massive applause. “And the only thing left to do is dump Trump. These days our party acts more like a cult ― a cult worshiping a felonious thug.”
–Former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan
America’s democracy depends on all of us—working together, acting morally, and upholding the values that have made this country strong. A massive rebuke of MAGA is how you protect the core values that transcend party lines and preserve the future of democracy. The time to act is now—because the survival of democracy is at stake.