Today is Election Day and while this post has been in my thoughts for months or even years, sitting here in the dark of the early morning, I feel now is the time to finally write it out.

I am no longer a Republican.

I am still a conservative. And I believe in the principles of a smaller and nimbler government, strong national defense, internationalism and the importance of American leadership in the world, capitalism and free trade, individual self reliance, the Bill of Rights, and most importantly, the democratic norms of separation of powers that is the genius of our Constitution.

Many of these things no longer align with the party of Lincoln, Reagan, Peggy Noonan, William F Buckley, George Will, David Brooks, Condi Rice, Liz Cheney, both Bush’s, John McCain, Mitt Romney, John Kasich, Adam Kinzinger, Elizabeth Dole, Christine Todd Whitman, Bill Weld, and hundreds of my other political heroes. The modern Republican Party is not conservatism. It’s Trumpism and I can’t get on board with the politics of division, hate, strongman fascism, egocentric misogynistic braggadocio, and non-sensical arguments based on fringe conspiracy thinking anti-science. It’s just not for me.

For a while I thought the rational part of the party would push back and purge Trumpism from the party. But the culmination of JD “he’s America’s Hitler” Vance now embracing Trumpism to out-Trump Trump, I realize there may never be a place for me in the party again. The takeover is complete.

The only thing I wonder is what will happen with those of us who stayed and tried to stay true. Even Nikki Haley tried to straddle the line and hold her nose to embrace Trump. Are there any of us who believe in country over party, the rule of law in the executive branch (sans the Supreme Court obviously) and the purity of logic- left to take back the party? I doubt it. Somehow the transactional need to unapologetically get what you want as more important than the true notion of compromise and “family values” (aka character) has taken hold and won the day.

I’ve voted mostly party line Democrat for last few elections. Including my absentee ballot last week. Not because I believe in all of what the party stands for (some good, some ok, some anathema to my truth) but instead because I feel my moral stance against Trumpism necessitates a counterbalance that I hope will be perceived by posterity as a bright spot on this blemish of the fabric of American History. This isn’t who we are. The alluring cult of personality that is Donald Trump could someday be redirected back to a place of love and respect from an equally inspiring person shouting positivity.

There’s no one out there today like that. Some of my heroes above are trying, but they just can’t break through. It used to be my dream to try to inspire the world to desire the “shining city upon a hill” and illuminate a path to get there. But the dark side won. And for now…

Josh:out