In Gloucester Township, it’s election season again — which means lawn signs, social media debates, and unfortunately, name-calling. One word keeps getting thrown around more than any other: “MAGA.”
If someone’s running for local office, asking questions at a council meeting, or even suggesting a new approach to taxes or zoning, someone else is quick to say, “Oh, they’re MAGA.” Have a single opinion that someone doesn’t like and they say , “So you’re MAGA now?” It’s not just the name calling that irritates me, it’s the whole use of the term in general. As a candidate in 2021 and again in 2023 I was always asked, “Are you MAGA?” Now here we are again with 4 great candidates running for Mayor and Council in GT and the question keeps coming up. “Are they MAGA?”
Let’s be clear: that label doesn’t belong in our local political conversation — and using it doesn’t make you sound informed. It makes you sound like you’ve stopped thinking critically.
“MAGA” Means a Lot of Things — None of Them Local
The term MAGA — short for Make America Great Again — was born in national politics. It’s tied to presidential campaigns, federal policies, and national-level issues like immigration or foreign trade.
None of that has anything to do with how we fix local roads, fund our schools, or manage township budgets.
When we drag national buzzwords into local conversations, we turn small-town governance into cable-news theater. Local candidates — regardless of party — deserve to be judged on their ideas for Gloucester Township, not whatever’s trending on X or Facebook.
Lazy Labels, Lazy Listening
Calling someone “MAGA” is the easiest way to avoid actually understanding what they believe.
It’s a lazy shorthand — the political equivalent of saying “I don’t like you, so I don’t have to listen.”
But here’s the truth: Gloucester Township has a lot of independent thinkers. People here don’t fit neatly into national boxes. Some vote Republican one year and Democrat the next. Many care less about party labels and more about things like property taxes, school safety, and how well their trash gets picked up.
When we smear neighbors or candidates as “MAGA” — without even asking what they stand for — we’re not just being unfair. We’re making our community conversations smaller and dumber.
Let’s Keep the Focus Where It Belongs
Local elections should be about local issues.
Ask candidates:
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- How will you handle township spending?
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- What’s your plan for development?
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- How will you improve transparency in local government?
Those are the questions that actually matter to Gloucester Township families.
Whether someone supports or doesn’t support a national figure has nothing to do with filling potholes on Chews Landing Road or balancing the municipal budget.
A Smarter, More Respectful Way Forward
If we want better politics in GT, we need better conversations. That starts with retiring “MAGA” as an insult.
Instead of assuming, start asking.
Instead of labeling, start listening.
This years candidates have been more available to residents than any other election I’ve ever witnessed. They are at township events, they are on podcasts, active on social media and you can even invite them over to your neighborhood to hang out with your neighbors.
You might not agree with every candidate — but you’ll at least be basing your opinion on what’s real, not recycled talking points from national media.
So next time you’re tempted to drop “MAGA” into a Facebook comment or backyard conversation, stop yourself.
We’re Gloucester Township — not Washington, D.C. Let’s keep our politics grounded right here, where it actually matters.