For the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, I am experiencing a deeply unfamiliar sensation. An election cycle is reaching its peak, but my name is not on the ballot.

As a longtime resident of Maryland, I spent 24 straight years down in the political arena. My name was a fixture on the ballot every single gubernatorial cycle starting in 2002 and one presidential cycle. I ran in grueling federal campaigns and sought local office. Through it all, I never broke that streak always being involved in campaigning. I won some, and I lost some. But being an active candidate meant having a direct stake in our constitutional republic.