Let’s talk about political endorsements for a minute. Before you assume this is about any one candidate or group, just sit with the idea. Pick your least favorite elected official—any level. Now ask yourself: is it wrong (not illegal, but wrong) for that person to use their position to publicly endorse candidates who may soon be their colleagues at the same level of government, shaping the future makeup of a governing body toward their preferred agenda?
Now ask the same question about your favorite elected official. If your answer changes, then what you’re really supporting is ideological engineering—the same kind of insider power dynamics people criticize when the “other side” does it.
I refer to this "engineering" as controlled succession—a pattern where sitting officials use their influence to shape who comes next. The issue isn’t just optics; it’s the built-in advantage. These endorsements carry institutional weight: name recognition, access, credibility, and influence that ordinary candidates simply don’t have. Even without explicit coordination, it tilts the playing field and risks turning open elections into curated outcomes rather than genuine competition. That weakens the core idea that representation should be directly earned from voters, not indirectly inherited through political alignment.
There are better alternatives. Incumbents can remain neutral and let candidates stand on their own merits. They can focus on educating voters with clear, transparent criteria instead of signaling favorites. And they can promote open debates and public forums that encourage direct accountability. If public trust matters—and it should—then the line between serving in office and shaping who replaces you shouldn’t be this blurry. Voters—not incumbents—should decide the future of their government.
Aaron Morrison
Hillsborough County
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Ladyred4Justice
Logical.
Add in Ranked Choice voting and it is another step toward "We the People" choosing our future governance.
Wednesday, June 24 Report this
David Daniels
Being an elected official should not require one to surrender their right to free speech. An endorsement is nothing more than an opinion. Money is what is tips the playing field.
Wednesday, July 15 Report this