What is a Conservative?
A search for voter information clarity
Conservative principles have played a major role in U.S. politics & culture since the Constitution was written and signed in 1787. Indeed, the Constitution is the fundamental basis of the ideology that we believe defines the term Conservative.
Arguably, the contemporary form of Conservatism emerged as an identifiable ideology and set of beliefs linked to the Republican Party in its opposition to Roosevelt’s “New Deal” in the 1930’s. The era from 1950 to 2000 could be considered the Golden Age of Republican-based conservatism. Today, when most people refer to conservatism, they are typically referring to the era ushered in by the presidency of Ronald Reagan and his “supply side” economic concept.
While there are variations of conservative focus - trade, defense, religion etc., certain consistent, fundamental principles apply.
KEY CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES
• Adherence to the U.S. Constitution
• Strong national defense
• Individual liberty and responsibility
• Limited Federal Government
• Free market capitalism
• Traditional social values
• Balanced Federal budget
• Separation of church and state
• Strong law enforcement
• Free trade
• Individual gun rights
• Opposition to Socialism and Communism
2000 to PRESENT
The past two decades have produced dramatic changes in the Republican Party. Donald Trump has captured the Party and remade it and the ideologies for which it stands. Indeed, Trump and his fellow Republicans challenge and even seek to eliminate key elements of the Constitution, as detailed in the Project 2025 report.
These days, the use of the term conservative is prolific. In Arizona’s primary election campaigning, we see many candidates using the “conservative” label. These candidates range from Reagan-style conservatives, to MAGA conservatives, to candidates who actively participated in the effort to discard the votes of Arizonans by replacing our electors with a slate of self-selected imposters! Some political analysts have labeled Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans as authoritarian fascists—in essence, insurrectionists.
For this reason, we urge you to look beyond the label when you vote this year. You may discover important distinctions that will shape your support, or not, for a particular candidate. You should ask yourself which candidate meets your definition of conservative. Is your candidate a Reagan, a Trump/MAGA, or an Insurrectionist Conservative?