Republicans, Staying Home Elect Democrats

This fall, Maryland conservatives must turn frustration into votes if they expect anything in Annapolis or Washington to change.

The graphic makes a blunt argument: when Republicans stay home, Republicans lose.

Specific turnout percentages should be understood as motivational rhetoric, not a scientific election formula. No one political party is guaranteed victory simply because a certain percentage of its registered voters participates.  However, candidates, districts, and political conditions matter. The message behind those numbers is right.  Elections are decided by the people who actually cast ballots, not by the people who complain the loudest afterward.

Republicans cannot keep demanding change while surrendering one of the most basic tools available to produce it.

I understand the frustration. Some Republicans do not believe their candidates are conservative enough. Others remain angry about a primary result or a disagreement within the party. Some insist nothing will change, no matter who wins. Then there are voters waiting for a flawless candidate who agrees with them on every issue and has never made a mistake.

That candidate does not exist.

Voting is not a declaration that someone is perfect. It is a choice between the candidates who will actually hold office. If one candidate agrees with you most of the time and the other plans to advance policies you fundamentally oppose, staying home does not punish the first candidate. It makes it easier for the second one to win.

Sadly, Democrats understand this better than Republicans sometimes do.  They may fight fiercely in their primaries, but once the general election arrives, many of them put those disagreements aside.  They organize, raise money, knock on doors, and vote. Republicans, meanwhile, can spend weeks arguing about who is a “real conservative” while Democrats quietly bank ballots.  Look at Montgomery County’s 2026 Democratic primary: County Executive Andrew Friedson fell in line and uber liberal Will Jawando.  However, Republicans sometimes struggle to move on after a primary defeat. We had one candidate this past cycle who was all in until he lost the Primary for Governor and is now MIA, or there are rumors he’s leaving the Republican Party to run as an Independent.  Or the most recent former Republican Governor refuses to do anything for Republcian candidates.

Guys, all I have to say is: be like Governor Ehrlich; he always shows up for the party and its candidates!

That is how political power is lost.

Marylanders should understand what is at stake this fall. We are not voting only for prominent names at the top of the ballot. We are choosing the people who will write state budgets, impose or reject taxes, oversee education, influence energy policy, address crime, and determine how much power parents retain in their children’s schools.

Local elections matter just as much. County executives and council members decide on property taxes, zoning, transportation, public safety, and development.  School board members influence classroom policy, discipline, and academic priorities. Members of Congress decide which bills move forward, which investigations receive attention, and whether an administration faces meaningful oversight.

Government reaches into our homes, businesses, schools, and paychecks. Republicans cannot ignore elections and then act surprised when government moves further away from their principles.

Turnout matters especially in nonpresidential elections. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 52.2 percent of the citizen voting-age population participated in the 2022 congressional election. That was strong for a midterm, but it still meant millions of eligible Americans did not vote. Relatively small numbers of ballots can decide close races while far larger numbers of dissatisfied citizens sit at home.

This year, Maryland Republicans have several ways to participate. Early voting for the 2026 general election runs from Thursday, October 22, through Thursday, October 29, from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Maryland also allows any registered voter to request a mail-in ballot.

Pick a method and make a plan.

Do not wait until Election Day morning to discover that work, traffic, illness, or a family responsibility has disrupted your schedule. Vote early if that is more convenient. Request a mail-in ballot if necessary. If you prefer Election Day, confirm your polling place and set aside the time now.

Then find another Republican and bring that person into the process. Call the neighbor who complains about taxes. Remind the parent who is frustrated with the schools. Check on the senior who may need transportation. Contact the young voter who has never participated in a midterm election.

A campaign sign cannot vote. A social-media post cannot vote. Anger cannot vote.

You can.

If Republicans want safer communities, accountable schools, responsible spending, affordable energy and a government that respects individual liberty, those priorities must become ballots.

This fall, do not surrender your voice. Show up and vote.

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Endnotes

1. “Census Bureau Releases 2022 Congressional Election Voting Report”
   U.S. Census Bureau. The report found that 52.2 percent of the citizen voting-age population participated in the 2022 congressional election.
   https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/congressional-election-voting-report.html
2. “2026 Gubernatorial Election”
   Maryland State Board of Elections. Official information concerning Maryland’s 2026 primary and general elections.
   https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/index.html
3. “Maryland General Election Information”
   Maryland State Board of Elections. Official dates, deadlines, voting options, and Election Day information for the 2026 general election.
   https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/vote2026/
4. “Mail-in Voting”
   Maryland State Board of Elections. Official instructions for requesting, completing, and returning a Maryland mail-in ballot.
   https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/absentee.html

⁠Monica Lawrence is a political commentator and contributing editor at DirectLine News, covering constitutional law and federal policy.

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