To the editor:

Midterm elections will be in November 2026. Time flies. Votes in Douglas County do count. A U.S. senator, representatives and governor will be up for election. Kansas has a history of picking Democratic governors; that could happen again. Loyal Republicans and conservative independents, especially in our First Congressional District, will have seen the wreckage wrought by the Trump administration, and many will vote for change. We must stand together in this next election. A mere 32% of potential voters nationwide elected Trump last fall. We Americans will have plenty of time to consider what Trump is doing to our country. How we respond will be crucial.

Independents may save us from dictatorship. We will need all your votes. Don’t worry, that won’t turn you into Democrats. A symbolic third party vote or staying home in protest would be futile. Please keep thinking about what has happened to America, to Americans, to our place as leaders of the free world. Democrats, some of you sat out the last election for various reasons. We cannot afford that next time. Vote!

Many Republicans are dismayed that Trump has stolen their party and is creating an authoritarian state. Help us vote out politicians who place allegiance to Trump above duty to country. Keep looking as objectively as possible at what he is doing. Does this represent the best America can be? Even Trump loyalists disagree with many of his actions. Please keep weighing his words, his actions. Everyone, be sure you are registered — and vote!

Joe Douglas,

Lawrence