U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., came into her first congressional campaign with 20 years of experience as a top state legislator under her belt. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., made his first run for Congress on the strength of his eight years of service in the Legislature, where he became the first African-American to serve as majority leader of the state Senate.
Now, compare this type of solid public leadership experience with the Republican candidates seeking election to Congress this year in Southern Nevada.
Of the 18 candidates seeking the three seats that are up for grabs, only three have been elected to public office at any level. And not one of them has served more than one term.
Welcome to Donald Trump’s Republican Party, where anti-government sentiment and anti-elitism make it a badge of shame for candidates to have held elected office. Trump’s GOP treats intelligence, dedication to public service and having qualifications for the job as drawbacks. No wonder today’s GOP is stacked high with grifters and miscreants, and tries to force out qualified civil servants.
An attitude that only outsiders need apply is flooding the field with inexperienced and badly underqualified candidates. Of course the GOP has made this a religion: It has stacked the federal bench with one unqualified judge after another, including many who have never appeared in court, much less earned judicial credibility by sitting on lower courts.
That’s not to say that holding a public office should be a requirement for congressional candidates. But the fact that so few of the Republicans in this year’s races have any experience in public service to speak of is a troubling sign of the times.
The field reflects Trump’s reality show influence on government. Candidates seeking office for the first time include a former professional wrestler (slogan: “Wrestler. Businessman. Leader”) and an extremist-media “political commentator”/actress whose credits include “Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens” and “All American Bikini Car Wash,” according to IMDb.
And these aren’t fringe candidates, either. The wrestler, Daniel “Big Dan” Rodimer, is endorsed by the likes of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and failed Nevada GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Laxalt. Rodimer is a threat to upend Dan Schwartz, whose four-year term as state treasurer is the most experience in elected office among all of the Republican candidates.
The actress, Mindy Robinson, is endorsed by Republican operative Roger Stone. In a sign of how badly the GOP has fallen, getting a nod from a convicted felon is seen as a plus. Should Nevada now look forward to bikini car wash political fundraisers?
This isn’t to suggest that people from certain backgrounds should be barred from seeking office. One candidate, for instance — Lisa Song Sutton — is best known as a beauty pageant winner but holds a law degree, interned for Sen. John McCain and operates several businesses. Also, several candidates bring military experience to their candidacies.
But overall, the field’s dearth of experience as public servants is unsettling. Many barely even have a background of service on volunteer community boards, charitable organizations and the like.
A background in public service matters. It teaches you the stakes involved and how official actions affect the lives of real people. It teaches you that the real job is to look out for all of your fellow citizens. It also just teaches you the simple realities of the job and what being in government means. Too often “gimmick” candidates are running purely for selfish reasons, not because they have a sense of calling to serve. And just as often, “gimmick” candidates immediately reveal their selfishness and weakness, and that leads to prompt damage to their constituencies. Anyone remember wrestler Jesse Ventura’s catastrophic governorship in Minnesota?
There are plenty of ways to learn how to serve. Plenty of ways to learn to work toward higher goals and the common good.
Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., hadn’t been elected to a public office when she made her successful run for Congress in 2018, but had years of experience working with local, state and federal lawmakers as the founding director of an education nonprofit organization.
That type of experience is important. Here’s why: Being an elected official is hard, at least when it’s done responsibly and effectively. Contrary to the GOP’s “anyone can do this” arrogance, it requires someone who’s willing and able to learn about policies on highly complex issues. For those coming from outside of government, it also comes with a steep learning curve about how the system works.
Trump, of course, is Exhibit A on the dangers of electing an unqualified or unsuited candidate. His notorious inability to absorb information beyond a few bullet points is a key ingredient of his horrendous leadership. That’s especially hit home during the coronavirus pandemic, where his clear lack of knowledge about public health and medical science revealed itself in his slow response and his dangerous suggestion that injections of disinfectants could cure COVID-19.
Unfortunately, though, the GOP has become his cult of personality, and candidates who share his contempt for enlightened, thoughtful and qualified government are coming forward to help him diminish it. Candidates who have been in office have targets on their backs.
It’s a sad state of affairs. Voters are best served when both parties field highly qualified and highly capable candidates. Responsible service in an elected office isn’t the only qualification that should be considered, but it’s a sign of a candidate’s suitability. It shouldn’t make that candidate radioactive.