John Q. Public asks Kati Moulton, Kenny Carswell…

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Party Endorsements in Nonpartisan Contests

City council races are nonpartisan, but some candidates still receive endorsements from political parties. What’s your view on the role of party endorsements in a nonpartisan race, and did you seek any?

— John Q. Public

Response

Kati Moulton

That’s a great question. Indeed most of the work I’ve done on Council is not easily parsed by progressive or conservative ideals. Many situations call for a nuanced approach, finding a middle ground that addresses as many concerns as possible. Or as Calvin & Hobbes said, “A good compromise leaves everybody mad.”

When it comes to endorsements though, many voters rely on trusted sources to help them discern differences between candidates. We elect representatives so they can become experts in things we don’t individually have time to study. We are hiring them to do a job. We need to trust that they will make decisions that align with our principles if they’re going to represent us well. It matters who they stand with, the company they keep.

When I see a Republican Party endorsed candidate, it tells me that they are going to be a voice of caution, holding on to the hard learned lessons of the past and tempering the drive to run headlong into whatever’s next. When I see a Democratic Party endorsed candidate, it tells me that they are going to pull forward, shedding old ideas in favor of innovation. A Green is going to bring the health of people and our planet to the front of every consideration. I realize this is a somewhat idealistic take on partisan politics. With the Red v Blue rivalry taking up much of our national political conversation, it’s easy to forget that most of us are somewhere toward the middle, and lean different ways on different issues. 

I have accepted and proudly wear my endorsements from the Humboldt County Democrats, the Humboldt Progressive Democrats, several local labor unions, and Democratic community leaders because it shows voters the kind of decisions I will likely make by the company I keep. I will push for innovation. I am willing to try something new when the old way doesn’t work anymore. I will stand up for labor. I will protect our environment. I believe diversity is our strength and resilient economies are built from the ground up. 

I can appreciate that aligning myself with one party will alienate some voters, but I think it’s worth letting people know where I stand. Better to lose friends by being honest than gain them by being palpably vague.