Chronicle Editorial

Primary pregame
     Though some Iowans are still nursing their hangovers from caucus season, we’ve got more hot political action coming down the pike: The June 7 primary election.
     The local ballot features a few contested races on the GOP side. As you’ve probably noticed on yard signs across the county, Linn Larson and Rick Rieken will square off for the sheriff’s nomination next month. Incumbent Corey Eberling and Dave Schoning are vying for the Supervisor District 3 nod, while Auditor Michell Giddings is running for another term uncontested. Current Sheffield Police Chief Ed Hanig is seeking the Democratic Party’s nod for sheriff and is running unopposed as well.
     Competitive matchups are typically fleeting for local offices come November, so the primary election offers at least a few options to voters. It’s important to take this opportunity and make an informed decision if you plan to vote next month. These candidates are more than willing to discuss their ideas and platforms with you, and this is your chance to ask hard questions that are important to the future of Franklin County.
     The clock is winding down with less than a month remaining before the primary election. After that’s over, we’ll once again shift gears to the presidential election. The time is now to question local candidates about their plans for the offices they seek. It’s always good to have choices at the ballot box no matter which side of the aisle you sit on.
 
And then there was one
     The ongoing battle for the GOP presidential nomination ended abruptly this month when Ted Cruz and John Kasich dropped out after the Indiana primary. The development secured Donald Trump as the party’s nominee, which is a mixed bag to say the least.
     Trump’s rise to political prominence signals a major red flag for Republicans. Not only has he shunned some of the GOP’s main ideals, he’s created a great divide among party leadership. Some Republicans have begrudgingly accepted him while others are withholding their support and completely denouncing his candidacy. More than a few party figureheads have said they’d rather back Hillary Clinton than Trump, which is extremely concerning considering her unfavorable reputation among the GOP.
     All this intraparty turmoil is not ideal during an election year. It creates weakness and division, making opponents appear stronger and more viable. Even Speaker of the House Paul Ryan — one of the Republican Party’s poster boys — hasn’t been able to offer a definitive endorsement of Trump.  How is a party supposed to run a strong campaign against an organized candidate if it can’t even stomach its own nominee? For better or worse, that’s a question the GOP is about answer.
     Despite mass outcry, Trump’s message resonated with the most voters. His divisive rhetoric and unapologetic attacks were the apparent breath of fresh air a majority of GOP voters wanted. Though mainstream Republicans may not like Trump, it is their continued failures that led to his rise. The voters have certainly made that known loud and clear.
     The 2016 campaign has been defined by conflicting realities so far. Both Clinton and Trump have high unlikability ratings among voters, yet both received a groundswell of support in the primaries. Both candidates carry significant baggage, yet many Americans opted to ignore facts and vote for them anyway. Both candidates have received backlash from their own parties, yet both forged ahead in the face of extreme controversy.
     The ongoing turmoil has led to cries for a third-party candidate to step forward. While it’s extremely late in the game, nothing is really surprising at this point. It would only make sense for another candidate to join the race and convolute this election even more.
     Regardless of the outcome, it will be interesting – if not rather scary – to see how this all pans out in the fall. The 2016 presidential race represents a siginificant shift in American politics that will no doubt reverberate well beyond November.