Can’t support Republican candidates associated with Trump

To the Editor,

   It has been 50 years ago when I first started voting in 1972. The Mi-term Election of 2022 is the first time I didn’t vote for a single Republican. I either voted for Democrats or left the spot on the ballot blank. I left the ballot blank for three contested races, plus for the four positions for Delaware County offices that Republican candidates had no opponent, for a total of seven blank spots on the ballot.

   I will not vote for any Republican candidates as long as Donald Trump has influence in the Republican Party. Donald Trump went to extremes ranging from recounts, especially in areas Democrats won; went to court many times, demanded that the Georgia Secretary of State find the Trump campaign 11,780 bogus votes so Trump could claim he won Georgia.

   On Jan. 6, 2021, mobs of people who supported Donald Trump and believed his lies stormed the U.S. Capitol, assaulted police officers, vandalized the Capitol, attempted to overthrow the government while Congress was in joint session. Members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, had to be evacuated to safety. The Trump supporters also tried to execute our then-Vice President Mike Pence for upholding the U.S. Constitution.

   After Trump left the White House, he illegally took classified government documents and he destroyed some of the documents and others were found at his private residence in Florida.

   With the evidence against Trump, the Republican Party continues to allow Trump to speak at republican rallies and endorse Republican candidates for the Primary Elections.

   Until Donald Trump is no longer associated with the Republican Party, I will not vote for any Republican candidates. When Trump is no longer associated with the Republican Party, then I will consider Republican candidates. Until then, I will either vote Blue or Blank.

Paul Adams

Manchester, Iowa