Fellow Republicans, we still have the chance to reclaim the right

Originally published in the Kansas City Star

As a lifelong Republican and former Missouri state senator, I often ask myself: Where have our party’s principles gone?

The values that once defined the GOP — those championed by leaders like Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan and John McCain — seem distant, obscured by noise, division and political expediency. Today’s Republican Party is increasingly dominated by chaos, not conviction.

But I still believe there is hope — if we return to the foundations that once made our party, and our country, strong.

That hope recently came into focus when I attended a national committee meeting held by Our Republican Legacy, a group founded by respected Republican elders Jack Danforth, William Cohen and Alan Simpson. Their effort isn’t just a nostalgic look back — it’s a movement to restore principle-driven leadership to the GOP. Their mission is clear, and it’s built on five core values: unity, constitutional integrity, fiscal responsibility, free enterprise and peace through strength.

These are not abstract ideals. They are guideposts that helped shape the greatest democracy in the world — and they still matter today.

Unity is not weakness. It is the strength that comes from respecting differences and finding common ground. The Republican Party once prided itself on being a “big tent” — a party that welcomed many voices. Today, our country is more polarized than ever, and unity is not just preferable — it is necessary.

The Constitution is the backbone of our republic, and with it, the peaceful transfer of power. Upholding it should never be up for debate. Recent years have tested this principle in dangerous ways. We cannot afford to waver on something so foundational.

Fiscal responsibility was once the GOP’s calling card. Yet the national debt is exploding. According to the Government Accountability Office, the government already spends more on net interest payments than on Medicare or national defense. By 2051, interest could surpass even Social Security. These are staggering and unacceptable projections. Both parties share blame, but Republicans have contributed at double the pace over Democrats. This is not sustainable, and it’s certainly not conservative.

Free enterprise — the belief in the power of the private sector — is another conservative cornerstone. But capitalism must be fair and accountable. The government shouldn’t stifle business, but it must ensure opportunity isn’t reserved for only the wealthiest or most powerful.

And then there’s peace through strength. This was more than a slogan for Reagan — it was a strategy that helped win the Cold War. Walking away from NATO or threatening our allies with tariffs undermines decades of global leadership. Strength means defending freedom and supporting our friends — not retreating from the world stage.

I’ve served as a delegate to two Republican National Conventions, sat on the Missouri GOP central committee and chaired Physicians for Reagan and Bush. I don’t speak from theory — I speak from decades of involvement in conservative politics. And I’m alarmed by what I see today.

According to Whit Ayres, founder and president of North Star Opinion Research, a longtime GOP political consultant, the Republican Party can be viewed as having three main factions based on support for Donald Trump, as reported in U.S. News & World Report, PBS and USA Today:

• “Always Trumpers” — This group constitutes approximately 35% of the Republican party and are consistent supporters of Trump. They are expected to support him unconditionally.

• “Never Trumpers” — This group makes up between 10% to 12% of the party.

• “Maybe Trumpers” — This faction represents the majority of the Republican Party. They voted for Trump in the past but are open to considering other candidates.

That means the majority of us — those who value principle over personality — are still here. We just need to speak louder.

Now is the time for Republicans of principle to reclaim our voice. That means pushing back against extremism, demanding fiscal sanity and returning to the rule of law. It means restoring the integrity and moral clarity that once defined conservative leadership.

Our legacy is at stake. Will we leave behind a bankrupt, isolated America? Or will we recommit to leadership, liberty and a legacy our children can be proud of?

The choice is ours. And if we act with courage, there is still time to choose the right path.

Marvin A. Singleton is a former Missouri state senator and president of the Missouri Association of Republicans. He lives in Overland Park.