For president: Kamala Harris

Four years ago, we endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president. And much of our endorsement centered on what we saw as Republican President Donald Trump’s failures and his unfitness to serve a second term.

As the pandemic still raged, we criticized his response to COVID. Trump downplayed the severity of the virus in public while privately acknowledging its deadly threat.

He set in motion the Supreme Court’s ruling ending reproductive freedom.

Trump failed to condemn white supremacists, energized by Trump’s incendiary immigration rhetoric. And even before his defeat, we noted that Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he lost.

The Jan. 6 happened. Amid our anger over the attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters trying to stop the certification of electoral votes, we demanded Trump resign with 13 days left in his term.

Instead, and unbelievably, he’s back on the brink of winning a second term. And Trump is a more ominous threat to democracy now than he was in 2020.

So, we endorse Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for president.

In addition to fearing an authoritarian will snatch the presidency again, we support several of Harris’ policy proposals.

We support her plan to expand the child tax credit and provide middle- and low-income Americans with a credit up to $6,000 for a child’s first year of life.

We back her plan to adjust Medicare to help seniors who want to receive care at home. Medicare would cover eye exams and glasses. And Harris would seek to expand the $35 cap on insulin for Medicare recipients to every American.

To address housing, Harris would provide up $25,000 in down payment assistance and a $10,000 tax credit to first-time homebuyers. Harris wants to build more housing and pursue legislation to rein in high rent.

We support Harris’ effort to make more generous Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of 2025.

The centerpiece of Trump’s economic plan is a series of across-the-board tariff’s on goods imported into the United States. Trump would impose a 60% tariff on Chinese goods and is considering a 100 or %200 percent tariff on vehicles made in Mexico or any goods manufactured by American companies that move to Mexico

Trump seems to believe the tariffs will produce government revenue. In reality, the costs will be passed on to American consumers. And U.S. tariffs are certain to spark a round of retaliatory tariffs imposed by other nations.

Twenty-three Nobel winners in economics have concluded Harris’ plans are superior to those offered by Trump.

They also come without flashing warning lights for democracy.

Last weekend’s Trump rally at Madison Square Garden offered many examples of the sort of campaign Trump is running and how he would govern.

A comedian called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” and joked about Latinos not using birth control, Jews being cheap and referenced watermelon during an exchange with a Black member of the audience.

Other speakers labeled Harris a prostitute and the Antichrist.

Trump has talked about using the military and Department of Justice to attack “the enemy within,” including his political opponents. Trump has called Inauguration Day “Liberation Day” if he wins. If he doesn’t, he likely won’t accept the outcome.

The best way to avoid the shredding of the Constitution is voting for Harris and dealing Trump a loss he can’t come back from.

Endorsements for Congress

Note: Our congressional endorsements were informed by press coverage, debates and the candidates’ public statements.

1st District

The race in the 1st Congressional District is rematch between Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democrat Christina Bohannan, a University of Iowa law professor

We endorse Bohannan.

Much of the campaign has centered on differing views on abortion rights. Bohannan opposes abortion bans, such as the one that took affect in Iowa. Miller-Meeks is pro-life and supports abortion restrictions.

Miller-Meeks tries to moderate her stance by backing exceptions to an abortion ban, such as allowing an abortion to save a mother’s life and for victims of rape and incest.

But any law that bans nearly all abortions is anything but moderate. Physicians have criticized the vague exception for a medical emergency in Iowa’s law. Advocates have panned the rape and incest exceptions.

On immigration, Bohannan supports the bipartisan reform plan that was shelved due to objections from Donald Trump. Miller-Meeks downplays the reform plan while bashing her opponent.

On both abortion and immigration, we side with Bohannan.

2nd District

The race in the 2nd District pits Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson against Democratic newcomer Sarah Corkery and no-party candidate Jody Puffett.

Our endorsement goes to Corkery.

As with Miller-Meeks, Hinson cloaks her extreme stand on banning abortion by mentioning her support for exceptions. Corkery points out that Hinson opposed bills guaranteeing access to contraception.

On immigration, Hinson basically repeats Republican talking points. Corkery supports the bipartisan immigration reform bill and questions whether Republicans are truly pro-life as Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott installed razor wire on the border.

But the biggest red flag for us is Hinson’s unwavering support for Donald Trump’s agenda. She has been endorsed by Trump and has linked her campaign to his candidacy.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com