Opinion by Rob Wilson | Eyes on EB
I’ve been noticing something this election that I haven’t seen this clearly in years past. People who have always supported one political party are considering candidates from the other. Some have already told me they’ve decided to cross that line, even after voting for the same party their entire adult lives.
These include some of the most outspoken political people I know. In another election, I would have assumed I knew where their votes were going. This year, those assumptions don’t necessarily hold. People are supporting candidates they might never have considered before, and I think that’s worth paying attention to.
I talk to and engage with a lot of people on social media in East Brunswick. Those conversations don’t represent every resident, but they give me a sense of what people are thinking about, what frustrates them and what they want to see happen here. Lately, I’m hearing more willingness to look beyond a party label and consider the person asking for their vote.
That’s why a recent social media discussion bringing the conversation back to Democrats versus Republicans stood out to me. It made me think about how much weight we put on a party’s history compared with the people actually running today. To me, the post felt outdated, like an argument that might have worked ten years ago. What disappointed me most was the lack of creativity and how little it seemed to reflect what residents are thinking about now. It left me wondering whether the people behind it have their finger on the pulse of this community.
What’s Best for East Brunswick?
From what I’m noticing, people seem more focused on how candidates can help East Brunswick than on whether they agree with them on every national issue.
People still have strong political beliefs. They still care about what’s happening across the country. But some seem more willing to make a separate judgment about a local candidate. They’re asking what that person could do here, how they would approach the town’s problems and whether they would listen to residents.
A Democrat can believe a Republican would do a good job locally. A Republican can believe the same about a Democrat. Neither person has to abandon every other belief they hold to reach that conclusion.
For many residents, the choice seems to come down to whether they’re happy with the direction of East Brunswick. If they like how things are going, they may support candidates who would continue that direction. If they want change, they may consider someone they previously would have ruled out because of their party.
Candidates should take that seriously. A vote that once seemed guaranteed may now need to be earned.
What Happened Years Ago, or Who’s Running Now?
Do residents care more about what a party did five or ten years ago, or what’s currently happening in East Brunswick and who is on the ballot now?
If the same people are running, their past decisions should absolutely be part of the discussion. Residents have every right to examine their record, question their choices and ask whether they followed through on their promises. Seeking another term means asking voters to evaluate what you’ve already done.
But when different people are running, I think they deserve to be judged on their own record, their ideas and what they propose to do for the town.
They shouldn’t automatically inherit every mistake made by someone else in their party. They also shouldn’t receive credit for accomplishments they had nothing to do with. A party label doesn’t relieve a candidate of the responsibility to explain their positions.
History matters when it helps us understand the choice in front of us. But if the conversation keeps returning to an old party argument, residents can be left without an answer to the question they’re asking today: How will you help East Brunswick? I think the old-school assumption that people will stay loyal to a party regardless of who’s running has had its day. Thank goodness.
People Are Taking a Closer Look
I think assuming people will automatically vote down party lines underestimates Gen X, millennials and younger generations.
They’ve embraced technology, have more information at their fingertips and many are digging into subjects to make sense of them. They can look up a candidate’s statements, watch a meeting, compare explanations and ask follow-up questions. They don’t have to rely entirely on what a party or campaign tells them.
Having access to information doesn’t mean everyone reaches the same conclusion. It gives people more opportunities to form their own opinions, including opinions that don’t fit neatly into their usual political identity.
I see that curiosity in social media conversations. People want explanations. They ask where a number came from, why something happened and what a candidate would do differently. Some are willing to challenge people they previously supported. More importantly, they aren’t afraid to call out the B.S.
In my opinion, anyone counting on party loyalty alone may not have their finger on the pulse of this community. Residents deserve more credit for thinking through their choices.
People Are Supporting Candidates They Once Opposed
I’m noticing residents supporting candidates they were or normally would be strongly against just five years ago. People I once would have expected to dismiss a candidate immediately are now giving that person serious consideration.
That doesn’t mean people have abandoned their principles. Supporting someone from another party can still depend on whether that candidate stays within the voter’s boundaries of ethics and morals. People can disagree on political issues and still believe someone would serve East Brunswick well. Everyone has lines they aren’t willing to cross.
What stands out to me is the willingness to reconsider. Residents are looking at who these candidates are today, what they’re proposing and whether they could help the town. An opinion formed five years ago doesn’t have to settle someone’s vote forever.
The Town Feels More United
In some ways, East Brunswick feels more united to me than ever. I think part of that comes from people putting their political parties aside and finding common ground in what they want for the town. Don’t get me wrong, there are always those few who are always looking for the next person or group to hate.
People who disagree strongly about national politics can still agree that they want local government to communicate clearly, spend responsibly and listen to residents. They can share concerns about the town’s direction without agreeing on every issue facing the country.
From what I’m seeing, it seems less about making sure their party wins and more about deciding what’s best for East Brunswick.
That doesn’t mean everyone supports the same candidates or has the same priorities. But there is something encouraging about watching people who normally stand on opposite sides have a productive conversation about the community they share. I’d like to see more of that. We live here together after the election, too.
Every Candidate Should Earn Their Support
Being open to crossing party lines doesn’t mean automatically voting for change. An alternative still needs to show residents why they deserve the job. Current officials should explain why their record warrants continued support.
The questions should be fair, and the standard should apply to everyone. What have you done? What are you proposing? Can you explain how it would work? Will you listen when residents disagree with you?
Those answers tell us far more than an assumption about how someone is supposed to vote. Residents should be able to consider those answers, change their minds and support the person they believe would serve the town best.
I don’t know how all the conversations I’m hearing will translate into election results. But this is the first election where I’ve noticed this openness so clearly, including among people whose political loyalties once seemed firmly settled.
I welcome it. Candidates should have to earn our votes, and residents should feel free to decide who can best help this town. From what I’m hearing, more people are giving themselves permission to do exactly that.
