Houston Chronicle Should Not Endorse Republican Primary Candidates Who Are Not Clear Advocates Of Democracy

The Houston Chronicle has been publishing endorsements for both the Democratic and Republican primaries. Early voting for these primaries begins on February 20 and Primary Election Day is March 5.

The Chronicle should not be endorsing Republican candidates who fail to distance themselves from the election-denial and insurrection of the Republican Party. Silence about extremism is itself extremism.

All Republican  candidates should be asked if they believe Joe Biden won the 2020 election without cheating, and where they stand on Donald Trump's openly-announced plans to suspend civil liberties if back in the White House.     

When you read the Chronicle's Republican endorsements, they attempt to parse between right-wing extremists and further out right-wing extremists.

There are in fact policy differences between Republican primary challengers. Some of them may well be reasonable people. Bipartisanship is essential to democracy.

However, there may be times when there is no rational or pro-democracy bipartisan political party to  partner with.

​Now is such a time.

The Chronicle's view is we should seek the least crazy Republican and hope for the best. We've been trying that strategy for years now and still we move closer and closer to authoritarianism. In almost all cases, even these supposedly even more moderate Republicans accept Donald Trump's leadership of the Republican Party. 

The Chronicle Editorial Board would better serve its readers and the pragmatism it endlessly says it seeks, with a firm and unrelenting advocacy of democracy. It is not pragmatic to pick one Trump supporter over another.  All you get with that is more Trump supporters in public office.  

The more productive and rational course would be to inform readers each and every day that today's Republican Party is anti-democratic, and to encourage readers to do all they can to defeat every Republican on the ballot.  

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.  

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