Endorsements aim to help you vote, even if you disagree

The election this Nov. 3 is often referred to as the “midterm” because it takes place in the middle of a presidential term. It is an accurate enough description — both in terms of timing and national political consequences — but it’s important to remember that there will be many more races on your ballot in four and a half weeks than just those for the U.S. House.

Suburban voters also will be electing, among other offices, numerous state senators and representatives and county executives, as well as deciding how their tax dollars are spent in various local referendums.

Some early voting is already under way, both by mail and in limited in-person settings, and opportunities will expand further beginning on Oct. 19. As in the past, we will strive to help by offering recommendations for selected positions.

As resources have declined and job demands increased, many newspapers across the country have decided to eliminate this traditional role. We continue to cling to it, believing that as a corporate citizen that closely follows the activities of our political leaders, our voice has a distinct value.

It is, indeed, a time-consuming and weighty effort. Our editorial board representatives are working now to research candidates and assess their positions and their qualifications.

When we begin publishing our endorsements later this month, I hope you will remember that, while we are making the case for electing the people we recommend, our goal is less to see that specific individuals are elected than to provide you a line of thinking that you can evaluate as you consider your ultimate choice.

We strive to identify candidates who offer engaging views and promising potential to address issues that matter, and we recognize that in very many cases, it may be the slightest of differences in style or substance that decides our selection. In such cases, you may well choose differently, but by reflecting on our reasoning, you can have confidence that you gave the decision the mental effort it deserves.

We read and hear daily about the significance of this year’s midterm elections, and the consequences for our national government cannot be denied. Don’t forget, though, that the consequences are equally significant in dozens of other races you will face.

When the time comes, we hope you will find that our advice, whether you took it or not, made you a better, more confident and informed voter.

• Jim Slusher, jslusher@dailyherald.com, is managing editor for opinion at the Daily Herald. Follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jim.slusher1 and on X at @JimSlusher. His book “To Nudge The World: Conversations, community and the role of the local newspaper” is a 2025 Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year and is available at eckhartzpress.com.