I urged Republicans to stay. Now, months later, I’m leaving the party. Here’s why – The Arizona Republic

Opinion: I had hoped that decent people working from the inside could save the Republican Party from those who believe the Big Lie. I was wrong.

Robert Gonzalez| opinion contributor

In February, I wrote an op-ed urging Republicans not to leave the party.

My hope was that the GOP could still be saved by decent people working from the inside. After more than two decades as a Republican, I had seen, metand worked with the many good folks who make it up.

I hoped that the extremism we were seeing those questioning the results of the 2020 election, those advocating against a peaceful transition of power, those defending the terrorists who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, those ignoring science and advocating for horse dewormer as a public health measurewas a fringe element.

While many Republicans failed to show leadership during Trumps presidency, it seemed that in the wake of Jan. 6, those leaders would finally stand up for truth and democracy.

I was wrong.

Since February, weve witnessed a sad majority of Republicans continue to support the anti-democratic forces in the party.

Here in Arizona, Republican leadership has pushed and advocated for a sham audit of the 2020 election results and politicized public health. These anti-democratic tendencies are not just prevalent among currently elected officials.

I dont know of a single Republican candidate who has announced for 2022 that has pushed back on the lunacy surrounding Stop the Steal. The mood among the boots on the ground is no different.

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At local legislative district meetings, Republican grassroots activists obsessively pursue conspiracy theories about the election. Support for Trump and for the belief that the election was somehow stolen for him has become a litmus test for Republicans in Arizona and across the country.

Opposition to science including the science behind vaccines and mask-wearing follow closely behind.

In Washington, D.C., we witnessed House Republicans push out Rep. Liz Cheney from her position of leadership solely for telling the truth that there was no credible evidence of fraud in the 2020 election, and that the terrorist attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6should be investigated by Congress.

More recently, Rep. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, a rising GOP star in any other era, was forced to announce his retirement, fearing for the safety of his family.

While I still hope for a reasonable, sane, principled Republican Party, Im no longer hopeful that it can be achieved by working within. Im not optimistic for the reelection prospects for folks like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, or for the prospects of those in Republican primaries who do not embrace the Big Lie.

And even if they win, their ability to do good remains severely constricted by the vast majority of Republicans in D.C. who embrace lies.

So where do we go from here?

Im not sure.

Some have left the party and registered as independents. That approach is principled, but given the current structure of our elections, makes it increasingly difficult for these sane voices to have any real influence.

Some have left and joined the Democratic Party. That is all well and good, if you feel a connection to the ideals of policies of that party, or feel that its leadership reflects your values. But weve seen what happens when the left holds political power unchecked. This country works best with a diversity of views.

Some are talking about new parties, like the Serve America Movement, and about reforming our primaries that entrench polarization. I truly hope they get traction, and we can move beyond a hyperpolarizedtwo-party system.

In the meantime, Im leaving the Republican Party. I had hope back in February that we could correct course. Especially after Jan. 6, a return to sanity seemed necessary, maybe inevitable. But after months of meeting with folks on the ground, watching the newsand seeing the 2022 GOP primaries unfold, Im less optimistic.

One of the few remaining tools to influence the Republican Party is to sever ties. So I urge remaining Republicans who stand for truth and democracy to vote with their feet, and leave.

Robert Gonzalez is a lawyer and tech executive living in Tucson. Reach him atrobertgon520@gmail.com; on Twitter:@robertgon33.

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I urged Republicans to stay. Now, months later, I'm leaving the party. Here's why - The Arizona Republic