No matter the congressional map, Missouri voters still have the final say

Despite having to endure all the judicial filings and appeals about which congressional district map is legal and should be in effect, let us seize the opportunity this chaotic morass has presented.

Vote for the person, irrespective of party affiliation, no matter which congressional district you end up in.

We can begin with the midterm elections on Nov. 3.

No matter what, Missouri voters still have an opportunity to have the final say by not letting anything stop us from voting.

Amid all the congressional map shenanigans, we must focus on voting for the candidate who will best represent and fight for the well-being of our families, communities and state — not some national, self-serving political or personal agenda.

How can we trust someone who supports defying the Missouri Constitution, the laws that have governed our elections, and the rulings of the Missouri Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court?

In this defining moment, whether we identify as Democrats, Republicans or independents, we must ask a few critical questions of those who are in office or seeking office and who are supposed to be representing the people of Missouri and making the best decisions on their behalf.

When it comes to carrying out the responsibilities of governing or leading, what and where is their moral compass?

For those who are currently in office and seeking re-election, who do they work for now, and who will they work for if they remain in office? Let us not ignore their words or past actions.

A fading or selective memory, or being seduced by a false sense of purpose or false promises, will not serve our state or the people of Missouri well.

A stroll down memory lane proves instructive. We need not backtrack too far — just the past 11 months.

During that short period, from the governor to the Republican supermajority in the state legislature, along with the secretary of state, there have been concerted efforts to undermine, marginalize and even render null and void the voices of tens of thousands of Missourians — making it more difficult, if not impossible, to exercise their rights to participate in our state’s democratic process moving forward.

We must ask ourselves: Irrespective of which congressional district we are in, has our current member of Congress represented and fought for our interests and well-being? Have they stood up and exercised the duties bestowed upon them by the U.S. Constitution when it comes to policy decisions and actions that would have been in the best interests of our state?

Whether you are a city dweller, a rural farmer or living somewhere in between, are you pleased with where our economy is and where it seems to be headed?

How are you dealing with the increasing cost of living, from feed and fertilizer to groceries and gasoline, housing and health care? And where are we heading as a nation when it comes to imposing tariffs, participating in wars and defining our role and standing on the world stage?

These are the areas we sent our members of Congress to Washington to address. How have they performed their jobs?

We, as voting Missourians, can vote them in or out, no matter which congressional district we are in.

Whether the current congressional map based on the last census remains in place, the new gerrymandered map takes effect or the people get a chance to decide which map to use, who ends up in Congress to represent us for the next two years and beyond is in our hands.

Now is not the time to be a rabid, card-carrying, forever-loyal Democrat or Republican when both parties are struggling to reclaim their traditional identities, control emerging fringes or reinvent and redefine themselves in light of emerging forces.

While those struggles are taking place, what better time than now to convey our preferences by voting for the people who best represent our values and democratic beliefs?

Amid all the chaos, we have the opportunity to vote for the best person. That, in itself, will help define party principles and alignment moving forward.

The midterm elections are only weeks away. We will not only be voting for who goes to Congress, but also whom we send to Jefferson City and other local offices. The results of those elections will help define what life will be like in Missouri for the next two years and beyond, depending on what policies are passed, what policies are not and what actions are taken.

We have seen and lived through how the policies and actions of one governing party or the other can change the trajectory of what occurs in our state and nation. We all must honestly answer the question: Do we like and approve of what we see and are experiencing?

Our short- and long-term quality of life is not determined in silos, nor by the outcome of a single election cycle.

Our power, our ability to have the last say, is determined by our ongoing engagement and vigilance and by holding those we send to Washington, Jefferson City, city hall and the county seat accountable.

In the current congressional district morass in which we find ourselves, that is more important than ever.

All the more reason we should not cast our votes with blinders on.