GUEST EDITORIAL
Democracy signs (File Photo – Staff)
The gathering at the Principles First 2026 Summit in Bar Harbor, Maryland, this past weekend felt less like a routine political conference and more like an intervention, an urgent attempt by longtime conservatives, former officials, and disillusioned Republicans to confront what they see as a crisis within their own party.
By William Garrison
Speaker after speaker warned that the movement surrounding Donald Trump has drifted far from traditional conservative values and toward something they view as far more dangerous for American democracy.
What stood out most was not ideological diversity but the emotional weight behind the warnings. These were not casual critics. Many had campaigned for Republican candidates, served in Republican administrations, or once proudly identified with the party’s ideals. Now, they describe the current political climate as unrecognizable.
An “electoral revolt”?
Former Rep. Joe Walsh urged attendees to stop minimizing the threat, arguing that the moment demands moral clarity rather than political calculation. Retired Gen. Mark Hertling spoke with visible emotion as he recounted foreign allies questioning whether American institutions can still be trusted. When a former commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe says he is “haunted” by those doubts, it underscores how deeply this turmoil is felt beyond domestic politics.
Longtime conservative strategist Bill Kristol—once a central figure in Republican intellectual circles—did not soften his assessment. He called Trump-aligned lawmakers an “existential threat.” And former Gov. Chris Christie pointed to polling showing that a significant minority of Republicans remain uneasy with Trump’s leadership, suggesting that dissatisfaction is real even if not yet dominant.
Perhaps the most striking symbol of the weekend was Rich Logis, a former MAGA loyalist, wearing a red hat that read “I left MAGA.” His call for an “electoral revolt” captured the mood of many attendees: a belief that reclaiming the party requires a decisive rejection at the ballot box.
Democracy itself is at stake
For those who have walked away from the Trump-era GOP, the divide is no longer about policy differences; it is about the character of the movement itself. Many believe the party has embraced tactics and rhetoric that undermine democratic norms, alienate moderates, and push out anyone unwilling to pledge loyalty to a single leader. In their view, what remains is a shrinking but hardened faction that no longer reflects the broader values of the country or the world.
The summit made one thing clear: the fight over the future of the Republican Party is not just political—it is moral. Attendees believe democracy itself is at risk. Whether their warnings will resonate beyond the walls of the conference hall remains uncertain, but their message was unmistakable: this is a moment of reckoning, and silence is no longer an option.
William Garrison is a resident of the San Gabriel Valley.
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