Silence Elects the Worst When Fear Stifles Endorsements of Good Candidates
June 17, 2025 | Media Inquiries: press@mctxgop.org
In every election cycle in Montgomery County, there is a troubling pattern: good, qualified candidates often struggle—not because they lack merit or vision, but because many people—elected officials, other candidates, voters, influencers, and community leaders—are too afraid to publicly support them. Their fear isn’t of the candidate they endorse, but of the reaction and retribution from the opposition and its supporters.
This fear, whether of political backlash, social ostracism, online harassment, economic coercion, or worse, creates a chilling effect on civic engagement. And it carries serious consequences.
When fear dictates silence, it distorts the public perception of support. In that environment, good candidates can appear fringe, marginal, or “unelectable,” not because people don’t believe in them, but because too few are willing to say they do. This self-fulfilling prophecy often leads to the most aggressive and well-funded candidates dominating public discourse—not because they are better, but because their critics are intimidated into silence and their supporters are willing to do whatever it takes to silence and intimidate the opposition. And when this happens, it also creates distrust by the people who fought so hard to get elected officials into office only to have them to be silent when another Conservative is running for office.
This dynamic benefits extremism. When thoughtful, capable candidates are abandoned out of fear, the political field becomes a vacuum filled by polarizing figures who thrive on intimidation. The loudest voices drown out the wisest ones and public debate is replaced by fear-driven conformity and relationship politics. The democratic process loses its vitality.
The danger isn’t just in losing one election. It’s in establishing a norm that fear is a more powerful political force than values or principles. That endorsing what’s right is risky, while tolerating what’s wrong is safe and peaceful. When that becomes the status quo, democracy becomes performative, not participatory.
To change this, courage is required—not just from candidates and elected officials, but from citizens. Speaking up isn’t just a right; in times like these, it becomes a responsibility. Endorsing good candidates despite the fear of backlash is not naive idealism—it’s a necessary act of civic integrity. Silence might feel safe in the moment, but it’s costly in the long run. Because in the end, elections aren’t just about who runs. They’re about who stands up—and who stays quiet.