Opinion Editorial Cartoons Op-Ed Editorials Letters to the Editor

Herald’s endorsement of Jeff Hurd was a mistake

I was pleased to see the Herald endorse Kamala Harris for president, in part because, as you correctly observed, Donald Trump is “dangerous.” However, I was extremely disappointed that you went on to endorse Republican Jeff Hurd for Congress. The Herald has long striven for political balance. That is understandable, and desirable, for a paper serving a politically diverse region. But to endorse Hurd for Congress after spurning Trump as dangerous indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of the choice we now face. Trump is “dangerous” not merely because he personally is uninformed, unbalanced, vindictive and authoritarian – in the words of his former senior military officers, a “fascist” – but because he has captured the national Republican Party and rendered it subservient to his whims. House Republicans in particular are entirely in his thrall.

Whatever Mr. Hurd’s private views, he has made the public professions of loyalty to Trump that are now necessary to secure the Republican nomination to any national office. And there is no indication that, if elected, he would be any more courageous in defying Trump’s commands than the notably craven current Republican members of the House.

If, heaven forfend, Trump is reelected as president, it is vital that at least one house of Congress be controlled by Democrats to check Trump’s most extravagantly foolish and anti-democratic impulses. For that reason, in addition to his many positive qualities, Democrat Adam Frisch should have received your endorsement.

Frank O. Bowman, III

Durango