By Jane Andersen | Mormon Women for Ethical Government
As a conservative Republican, I’ve found myself casting some unconventional votes over the last few years. I have always been driven by my principles when selecting candidates, and that has usually resulted in voting for people from my preferred party. But following the 2020 election — with the questioning of election results and the unprecedented events of Jan. 6 — I’ve been compelled to actively oppose candidates from my own party. These Republican candidates were asking me to do something I was not willing to do: pledge my loyalty to the Republican Party over everything else.
The rhetoric of some Arizona Republican candidates and state party leadership helped me clearly see that party dominance is not a core principle for me. Even giving primacy to achieving specific policy outcomes lost its luster when compared to another foundational principle of civic engagement and governance that supersedes all others: supporting the processes of government as outlined in the Constitution.
In his 1943 paper, “A Theory of Human Motivation,” Abraham Maslow outlined a hierarchy of human needs. This framework presumes that in the absence of meeting foundational needs, more complex desires cannot be addressed. In politics, the same holds true. Perhaps this lens could inform “A Theory of Political Motivation” and explain why my recent voting for Democrats has been an easy though non-preferred choice.
If the choice is between aligning with the party or sustaining democratic processes, I will always choose the latter. My hands are tied — not by me but by the options the Republican Party presents to me. I am unable to support leaders who lack loyalty to constitutional principles so basic that they should be non-negotiable.
Sadly, it means I have fewer opportunities to support conservative public policy. The party’s failure to meet basic political needs means Republicans are unable to address higher-level political desires, including viable conservative policy. While some Democratic candidates have received my support, this should not be interpreted as my move towards the Democratic Party. Rather, it’s an indication that no candidate will receive my vote if they don’t adhere to democratic norms.
Many Arizona Republican leaders mistakenly think that voters like me value Republicans winning more than we care about what the party is fighting for. They foolishly reason that when I enter the political sphere, I absolve myself from the deliberate decision-making processes I employ in all other aspects of my life. These leaders have neutered their own impact through blind loyalty to a party and its current head. I, however, cherish my role as a citizen and will not surrender my influence to a group simply to support a label.
I worry the principles that have defined my conservative perspective — such as local control, limited government, and fiscal responsibility — are not priorities for many political leaders who are on team elephant. While my civic engagement certainly seeks desired policy outcomes, it is also about the virtue of political processes and an overarching belief that civic engagement is not just about winning.
I will not elect candidates who support families if they cannot be honest about losing elections, who promise to reduce government spending and then vote for a budget that radically increases the national debt (like our Republican House delegation backing the not so beautiful big bill), and who talk about enacting sensible immigration policy but support people being removed by masked, plain-clothed government agents without due process.
Republican Party and elected leaders, I implore you to return to a principled approach to governing that begins with respect for the political process. Meet our basic political needs, and then we will be able to work towards sustainable conservative policy, not just short-term, shortsighted wins.
Give your loyalty to the Constitution’s governing processes rather than the current executive. Sadly, Republican Party victories no longer guarantee the advancement of conservative policy. The party’s inability to meet basic political needs is hampering the conservative movement.
Editor’s note: Jane Andersen is Arizona State director for Mormon Women for Ethical Government, a nonpartisan faith-based community of women dedicated to civic empowerment and engagement. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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