Voting Criteria - The Party or the Person?

by Gary Hooser

Recently, I received an email asking a simple and straightforward question that quickly became entangled in complicated thoughts and counter-thoughts.

My friend asked:

“I live in Representative District ##, where John Doe (Democrat) is running against Karen Jones (Republican).

I reviewed their respective responses to their Civil Beat questions and found John Doe’s responses weak and thin. By comparison, Karen Jone’s words were much more thoughtful. However, she is a conservative and a Christian whose faith has a strong bearing on her life and politics. She makes that clearly known.

John Doe is running for reelection but seems very inexperienced and lacking a vision of his preferred future for Hawaii. But he is a Democrat and will be consistent in supporting the party line.

On the other hand, Karen Jones, at 65, is retired, a former owner of a company, and a long-time community association leader. She has a more defined vision of a preferred future for Hawaii. But she’s a Republican.

How would you advise people to vote in this instance? Should I vote along Party lines or cross the line and vote for the person instead of the Party?”

Seemed like a pretty basic question and my initial thought was to suggest that regardless of Party affiliation, the vote should go to the person who seemed more competent, and who held a more compelling vision of the future.

Then I remembered a past conversation with my daughter.

“Dad,” she said.

“There are some things like bigotry and a woman’s right to choose, where it’s not possible to agree to disagree. There are some things that are non-negotiable. Just because someone cares deeply about the community, is honest, has a solid track record as a volunteer, and goes to church every Sunday – doesn’t mean you want them in charge of making the rules we all must live by.”

My daughter, of course, nailed it and she’s absolutely correct (as is normally the case).

Consequently, my response to my friend’s email asking whether he should vote for Karen Jones the competent Republican with a compelling vision was a series of follow-up questions – each with a non-negotiable answer.

Does Karen Jones support Trump?

Does she support Project 2025?

Does she believe in a woman’s right to choose?

Does she support marriage equality?

Does she view the LGBTQ community as equals?

Does she believe public schools should require the Bible to be taught as the word of God?

What about books? Does she want to dictate the books my family may or may not read?

Does she believe every worker is entitled to a living wage?

Does she support universal healthcare?

Does she believe global warming is a real threat to our planet?

Of course, there are other litmus test questions, and it’s possible perhaps even likely, that Democrat John Doe does not answer them all correctly either.

But you get the point, and the questions must be asked.

Electing the right person to serve in public office is about more than just choosing someone with a good heart who cares deeply about the community.

I have close relatives whom I love dearly, but would never ever vote for them (and yes, at family gatherings we mostly avoid talking politics).

Political parties are formed around values, issues related to those values, and the individuals/candidates who champion those values.

Candidates for State and Federal office join the political party that aligns best with their own personal values and pledge to support the platform of that Party.

Personally, it would be impossible for me to vote for Karen Jones or any candidate that personally supports, or belongs to a political party that supports, the electing Donald Trump to be President.

GARY HOOSER is a former Hawaiʻi State Senator and Majority Leader.