The local paper has a voter guide whose descriptions include a link to each candidate’s website for more info, and I was going through some of the more obscure ones.

Both of those who want to head the state’s department of education called themselves nonpartisan.

And then I clicked. Wow.

One joyfully described his work for the kids in his school district and the ways and the whys of making a difference, turning things around such that his city became #1 in math and literacy among the top 80 urban districts in the country. Narrowing the gap between the success rates among his constituents was important to him and he was proud to show his work and hoped to do more for the rest of the kids in the state as well.

The other is running on reich-wing fearmongering and bullying using only-I-can-fix-it rhetoric and ohmygoodness haven’t we had enough of all that? She’s got the string of pearls and the little cross necklace both as she appears to be ready to take money from the poor districts and give it to the more deserving rich ones, and her message to gay or trans kids is, Fear me. I will teach your peers to hate you.

I have a gay cousin who, like far too many of them, committed suicide. I know where attitudes like hers lead to and I don’t want any other family ever to go through that if I can do anything about it.

We can. Every single vote matters.

Every single race in the election matters.