In today’s political landscape, it’s easy to feel divided, and many of us have supported different candidates for different reasons over the years. However, it’s important to take a moment to consider the leadership qualities that will best serve our country moving forward and to evaluate our candidates objectively. What I’m seeing lately is alarming.
Donald Trump’s rhetoric is becoming more extreme by the week, and his approach seems to be gaining support by stoking fear and division. His group of “others” is growing. Have you listened to him recently? He is villainizing anyone who doesn’t blindly support everything he says or does.
The list of his former employees warning us against him is growing. Many of Trump’s former cabinet members, security advisors, and even his former chief of staff have issued warnings about the danger he poses to our country. They’ve called him a “threat to democracy.” These are people who worked closely with him and know him firsthand—shouldn’t we take their perspective seriously?
Hundreds of traditional, conservative Republicans, including former Trump aides, lawmakers, and party officials, have endorsed Kamala Harris. They trust that she will uphold democracy, support the rule of law, and remain faithful to the Constitution—qualities they no longer see in Trump.
Trump has become an all-or-nothing candidate—you’re either completely loyal to him or risk being rejected and cast aside. Many GOP politicians are either aligning with far-right extremists or acting out of fear of him. Trump has labeled those who disagree with him as “the enemy within” and has intimidated media companies by threatening revenge. When a leader talks about imprisoning or prosecuting those who disagree, that’s a serious warning sign.
The presidential transition process is crucial to ensure the government functions smoothly, especially for national security. Trump hasn’t complied with these mandates, raising concerns he might use something like Project 2025 to fill key positions with people who have pledged personal loyalty to him, many of whom have donated large sums to secure cabinet or agency roles. Figures like Betsy DeVos, who has pushed for public funds to support private religious schools, or Elon Musk, who has been openly anti-union and shared anti-Semitic rhetoric, raise questions—do these people really have our best interests at heart?
Trump is also refusing to share his medical information, raising concerns about transparency. If he wins, could his party declare him mentally unfit and replace him with someone like JD Vance, who has little government experience and questionable judgment?
I trust those who are sounding the alarm about Trump, and I value the decades of public service that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz bring to the table. Their experience and commitment to serving the public stand in stark contrast to the uncertainty surrounding Trump. This election is about more than party—it’s about the future of our country. I will proudly vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because I believe they represent a positive, unifying vision for our nation.
Kimmer Duncan
Enumclaw
