Tom Perez

Opinion contributor

This is the most important election of our lifetime. Voters face a choice between a Republican Party marching in lockstep behind President Donald Trump and a Democratic Party that will fight for affordable health care; protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security; stand up for working families, hold Trump accountable; and restore sanity to our politics.

In the two years since Trump’s election, Republicans have shown the American people what they truly stand for. They’ve worked to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, which could strip health care away from millions of people, including those with pre-existing conditions. They passed a tax bill that rewards the wealthy instead of lifting up hardworking families. They want to slash Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to pay for those tax cuts. And they have refused to speak out against Trump for inciting hatred with a toxic combination of outright lies and the mostvicious, dishonest rhetoricin modern presidential history.

Trump era marked by scandals and lies

Despite scandal after scandal, despite the unprecedented dishonesty of this president, and despite the fact that Trump’s own staff has questioned his fitness for office, the Republican Party remains a rubber stamp on his agenda.

And this degradation of our democracy isn’t confined to Washington. Republicans in state legislatures and governors’ mansions across the country have echoed Trump’s rhetoric and amplified his agenda, chipping away at women’s rights, workers’ rights,LGBTQ rights, voting rights and more.

That’s why we need Democratic leadership more than ever.

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Democrats believe that health care is a right for all. We believe that the economy should work for everyone, not just those at the top. We believe in protecting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, not tearing holes in the safety net in order to enrich those already at the top. We believe our that diversity is our strength, and that there is no justification for the brutality of separating immigrant children from their parents. We believe that facts matter. We believe in holding the president accountable when he lies.

And we believe in preserving the guardrails of our democracy, designed by our Founders to keep despots and demagogues from ruling like kings.

The Democratic Party’s candidates reflect the diversity of our nation. They’re passionate about people, not corporate profits. And when we win on Tuesday, they’ll work tirelessly to unite Americans under our shared hopes.

Tom Perez is chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Follow him on Twitter: @TomPerez