Today’s split in the Republican Party mirrors the split in the Democrats in 1860. Their leadership is made up of extremists who consider their opponents illegitimate, maintain that they alone understand the Constitution, and are skewing the mechanics of our electoral system to keep themselves in power. In 1860, the Democratic Party split, its moderates joining with the fledgling Republicans to defend the United States of America.
Today, Republicans who previously hoped that after Trump’s defeat, they might take back their party, now agree that the only way to stop Trumpism is to form an alliance with Democrats to defend American institutions, defeat far-right candidates and elect honorable representatives in 2022—including moderate Democrats. To defend democracy, they feel concerned conservatives must join forces to block anti-democratic Republican leaders from regaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.
The 1860s was a time when it was necessary to put political differences aside to protect our democratic republic. History really does repeat itself.
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