The Invaluable Vote

Written by Mark Elfstrand

The 2026 elections will tell us a lot about the future of our nation. It will likely also tell us whether Donald Trump’s agenda has a lick of hope to survive in the next two years. And, as has been the case, whether unborn babies have a prayer, and whether we will continue to gamble our finances away and drive families into greater debt.

Sound positive? No. Sound real? As a good Minnesotan would say, “You betcha.”

The United States Senate has several races to keep an eye on. Since I mentioned Minnesota, let’s start there. Former NBC Television sportscaster Michelle Tafoya (Republican) has made up a massive amount of ground against her Democrat opponent. That election is now a toss up. Conservative on most issues, Michelle fails the test when it comes to protecting the unborn. Her opponent gets lower marks on this. Could be a shocker.

Another midwestern senate race drawing a massive amount of attention—including from former President Obama—is in Michigan. It’s almost impossible to understand how a majority of voters in that state could elect U.S. Senate hopeful, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed to help govern our nation. His less-than-devoted patriotism to America (as evidenced by tweets made previously regarding 9/11) make him suspect.

El-Sayed’s known position statements include calls for massive public housing investments, reducing the number of billionaires, guaranteeing “a living wage,” advocating a single-payer healthcare system, etc. etc. Sounds like what? Socialism? Duh!

And while media will question candidates and politicians on their Christian beliefs (as I’ll explain below)—is anyone challenging Muslim candidates on theirs? Or is that off limits?

Another state (aside from Michigan) seeing significant Muslim influence is Texas! It’s reported that in 2010, there were 166 mosques in the state. Then 283 in 2020. Since 2023, approximately 50 new mosques have opened. There are now more than 330 mosques in Texas!

People claiming the Christian faith are heavily divided in this nation on conservative and progressive issues and candidates. What about the Muslim population? What are their voting percentages when it comes to candidates holding their religious beliefs?

Studies reported to science direct.com reveal,

“the results from a series of conditional logit models shows that Muslims are more likely to vote for Muslim candidates, but only when those candidates have a realistic chance of winning – there is thus a strong strategic element to their vote calculus.” 

Meanwhile, pit two “Christian candidates” against each other—as in Talarico versus Paxton in Texas, and the populace is divided. Another Senate race to watch is in Kansas. Here, Democratic nominee Adam Hamilton is challenging incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall. Note that Hamilton is a pastor! Talarico a seminary student.

But the state where God is coming into political play in a most interesting way is in the Illinois governor’s contest. Here is some actual text from a television ad against Republican Darren Bailey: (Governor Pritzker is Bailey’s opponent.)

“Darren Bailey is way too extreme for Illinois.”

“Bailey supports Donald Trump’s destructive policies and would put his loyalty to a corrupt president above the people of Illinois.”

Darren Bailey founded a school that teaches a curriculum that says evolution isn’t real and that slave owners were kind to their slaves.

He also supported local officials banning books in schools.

The school Bailey founded uses a curriculum that teaches dinosaurs and humans walked the earth at the same time.

Darren Bailey believes women should be inferior to men in the household, saying God ‘intended the family unit to be headed by the dad.

He also opposes the right to an abortion, even in cases of rape and incest – and compared abortion to the Holocaust. Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, if Bailey is elected, he could end abortion rights in Illinois.”

What’s missing is anything about what Governor Pritzker really holds true.

Put aside Darren Bailey for a moment. There are thousands upon thousands of Illinoisans who share many of Bailey’s biblically defensible beliefs! This ad is telling all who agree on any of these positions that we are all extremists. Better said, religious NUT CASES!

Don’t patronize politicians who attack your faith.

Your precious vote is worth so much more.