Republicans were widely portrayed as the opposite this past election – as a danger to democracy, and as extremists embracing authoritarian hierarchies. Sadly, some independent voters (and most Democrats) actually seem to believe this inversion of reality. This description was so foreign to our thinking that we dismissed it as almost laughable; we should instead take note and be who we are.

Today, we Republicans are the party of Jefferson, Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr. …

So, let’s clear the air as we start a new era of Republican governance in the House. The Republican Party is defined by 1776, not Jan. 6.

Republicans believe in and seek to live into the equalizing power of neighborly love – neither better nor worse. We seek to form a government that serves us instead of ruling over us. And we stand against policies and people motivated by anger and hate for others.

We are not who they say we are. From school board meetings to the House of Representatives, Republicans strive to rebut and roll back ideas motivated by hate, anger, and envy. We support leaders who resolutely defend, preserve, and promote the equalizing power of mutual respect, and our divine rights to liberty, self-government, and the pursuit of happiness.

[To accomplish this, though, Republicans had better start nominating candidates who aren’t obsessing over the 2020 election, too. — Ed]