Gary Berkland is the Belmond-Klemme School Board president.

I’m a lifelong Iowan, a Vietnam veteran, a small-town lawyer, and yes—a registered Republican. I’ve voted for plenty of Republicans over the years, but this election, I’m proud to be supporting Democrat Zach Wahls for the United States Senate.

That might surprise some folks, but it really shouldn’t. Zach represents the kind of leadership both parties used to value: honest, practical, and grounded in Iowa common sense. He’s part of a new generation that’s more interested in solving problems than scoring partisan points, and that’s exactly what our country needs.

When I first met Zach, what struck me wasn’t his party label—it was his character. He listens. He shows up. And he’s not afraid to stand up to anyone, including his own party, when it’s the right thing to do. That’s rare these days, in either party.

Zach and I may not agree on everything, but we share some core beliefs about how government should work. We both believe in term limits, because politicians shouldn’t make a career out of holding on to power. We believe public service is about helping people, not helping yourself. And we believe that protecting programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid isn’t about politics—it’s about keeping the promises our country made to its veterans, seniors, and working families.

What really sold me on Zach was his willingness to take on the corruption that’s infected both parties in Washington. He’s leading the charge to ban insider trading by members of Congress, to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, and to stop politicians from cashing in on corporate PAC money. Those are ideas every Iowan—Republican, Democrat, or independent—should be able to get behind. As Zach likes to say, “To fix our broken economy, we have to fix our broken politics.” I couldn’t agree more.

Like many Republicans, I’m tired of watching career politicians talk tough back home, then go to Washington and do the bidding of lobbyists and special interests. We’ve seen what that kind of politics gets us—higher prices, fewer good jobs, and rural hospitals on the brink of closure. Zach’s proven in the Iowa Senate that he’ll work across the aisle to actually get things done. He brought Democrats and Republicans together to protect residents in mobile-home communities from corporate landlords, passed bipartisan bills to cut taxes for middle-class families, and fought to keep pharmacies open in small towns like mine. That’s real leadership.

Zach Wahls doesn’t see Iowans as Democrats or Republicans—he sees us as neighbors. He’s running to lower costs for families, protect our farms, and make sure our kids have good schools to learn in and good jobs to stay for. He’s the kind of leader who talks less about party loyalty and more about personal responsibility—something I was raised to value.

This election isn’t about left versus right. It’s about right versus wrong. It’s about whether Iowa will send another politician to Washington to protect the status quo—or send someone who will challenge it. For me, the choice is clear. Zach Wahls is the only candidate talking about solutions that can actually bring people together and move Iowa forward.

So from one Republican to my fellow Iowans—take a good look at Zach Wahls. You’ll find an honest man who loves this state, fights for working families, and believes in putting country over party. That’s why I’m proud to stand with him, and why I’ll be casting my vote for Zach Wahls for the United States Senate.

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