From Allen Pincus
Barneveld
To the Editor:
“Pretend I’m on the ballot in November” President Trump tells us. But here in Wisconsin we don’t have to pretend. In effect he is on the ballot in the person of Trump loyalist Tom Tiffany. Yes, the same Tom Tiffany who worked to overturn the votes cast by Wisconsin citizens in the 2020 presidential election. The same Tom Tiffany who fully supports Trump’s ill-advised MAGA policies and priorities that are responsible for the economic hardships facing so many Americans today. And now, if elected governor, he’s ready to do Trump’s bidding in Wisconsin.
Elsewhere, a number of prominent Republicans in Red states are speaking out about the shortcomings of the Trump administration, rejecting unqualified congressional candidates backed by Trump, and endorsing the better qualified Democratic opponents. This group of Republicans includes former Kansas governors Bill Graves and Mike Hayden, the former Republican National Committee Chairman from Montana Marc Racicot, and 20 current and former Republican office holders in Texas. (Source: Newsweek Magazine Sept. 20, 2026.) The Democrats they endorsed offered practical and fiscally responsible proposals for addressing issues that matter to voters such as access to affordable and quality healthcare and childcare, good public schools, clean air and water, and lowering energy costs.
To be clear, by their actions these prominent Republicans are not signaling their rejection of traditional conservatism or the Republican party. However, their actions do broadcast a couple of important messages. The first one is to remember the wisdom in the old adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” The party label a candidate wears, be it Democrat or Republican, is not always a reliable indicator of their competence, character or other traits we value in candidates.The other message is directed to those who voted for Trump or Trump endorsed candidates in past elections and now, for good reason, feel betrayed. You can’t change past votes, but you can, in good conscience, place country above party loyalty when you enter the voting booth on November 3rd.
