Principles First is not Conservatism Last

Calling the balls and strikes fairly has more impact on the overall political culture than stepping up to the plate for a team that fails basic requirements for support.

Principles first cannot mean conservatism last.

I disagree with Harris on practically every policy position, and I believe the Democrats’ desire to pack the Court and their flirtations with Electoral College reform present serious issues for our republic—therefore, I cannot support her with my vote.

I agree with many (probably most) of Trump’s policy positions, but I believe he is fundamentally unqualified to be President and that his disdain for our constitutional order and institutions presents serious issues for our republic—therefore, I cannot support him with my vote.

Further, the cultural values and governance views of the Democratic Party do not generally align with mine. The cultural values and governance views of the Republican Party do generally align with mine, albeit not as much in recent times with their penchant for populism.

All of these factors have left me, as a conservative, without a clear political home in 2024—that does not mean my values or principles have changed. Our political system is one that is supposed to facilitate difficult, constructive debates to find compromise between competing factions and building broad coalitions to create cohesion, not necessarily to form unity. I truly believe in that work and it is what I try to do every day. That is putting my principles first. Voting, however, is different.

Voting means giving some level of endorsement to a candidate or to a team and their agenda. My inability to support Trump does not necessitate my support of Harris. Nor do I believe one should abandon conservative principles to celebrate or endorse progressive ones out of some principled conservative opposition to Trumpism. I believe everyone should do what their conscience guides them to do.

As for me, I will support policies and candidates that align with my values down-ballot where I can, though being a resident of DC significantly limits those options. As for the Presidency, I may write in a candidate or I may leave the top of the ticket empty. Not sure yet. I believe my personal task this election cycle is to call balls and strikes—advocate for good policy, criticize bad policies, and help cultivate a strong conservative movement that has the ability to better influence the GOP away from MAGA populism and back towards the conservative values of our political order and valuing our rightly-ordered institutions.

André Béliveau is a policy and political analyst based in Washington, DC. He holds an MA in Government from Johns Hopkins University and BA in History from Marist College. @TheRealBeliveau