A recent letter sent to registered Democrats, paid for by Friends of Todd Nash and sent by the Oregon Right to Life Political Action Committee, has ignited widespread condemnation among local constituents. This letter encouraged voters to write in candidate Todd Nash on the Democratic primary ballot, exploiting a legal loophole to secure the Democratic nomination as a Republican.

While Nash has publicly commented that these letters were only sent to potential “pro-life” sympathizers, the only discernible pattern among the recipients of these concerning letters is that they target young Democratic women of childbearing age. This raises serious questions about the integrity of these groups who implement predatory campaigns targeting the populations that restrictive “pro-life” policies would directly control.

Another concern is the possibility that if successful, the candidate would misrepresent himself in the general election. This raises serious doubts about his commitment to the Republican Party and its platform, as trying to obtain the nomination of a party you’re not a member of is falsifying your values. As voters, we must recognize that these deceptive tactics undermine the integrity of our electoral process and potentially disenfranchise and confuse segments of the electorate.

Let us not be swayed by manipulative tactics from deep-pocket PACs and candidates targeting specific populations, but instead, ensure that our voices are heard loud and clear on Election Day by not writing in Republican candidates who aim to restrict women’s reproductive health-care rights.

Alex Jones

Wallowa County