Around this time you often hear people say, “I vote for the candidate, not the party.”

This is an excellent strategy for school boards, borough councils, township supervisors, and county commissioners. At our local government meetings you usually can’t tell which officials are Republicans or Democrats.

It is not a good strategy for electing members of Congress. Congress is organized by political parties. If a majority of the House of Representatives is Republican (as it is now), every Committee will be chaired by a Republican. The legislative policy agenda will be set by Republicans.

The Speaker of the House (now Mike Johnson, third in line for the Presidency) will be a Republican. The Majority Leader in the Senate (currently John Thune of South Dakota) will be a Republican.

If the majority of the House and Senate members are Democrats, the committee chairs, the House Speaker, and the Senate Majority Leader will be Democrats and the legislative policy agenda will be set by Democrats.

It won’t matter how intelligent or glib or well-dressed or likable the candidate you elect might be, once that candidate gets to Congress, he or she will vote for the leadership of his or her party. If you don’t believe that, ask your candidates at a forum. Then vote for the party you want to control the House or the Senate.

Roy Christman

Towamensing Township