You don’t have to stray very far from the facts to understand that Donald Trump is like no other candidate who has ever run for the American  presidency. And I mean that in the worst way.

He is, after all, quite open about his rejection of fair and free elections and is facing criminal charges, brought by multiple indictments from citizen juries in different jurisdictions, for allegedly trying to steal votes and attempt to violently overturn the results of the honest, courts-certified election of 2020.

He won’t agree to respect the results of the November election this year.

And in the event he wins, he’s already promised the end of democracy, plainly saying that if you elect him this time he’ll “fix” the system so you’ll never have to vote again.

So I have no tolerance at all for any Republicans running on the ballot with an avowed democracy killer, unless they specifically renounce him.

I hope a vast majority of other Connecticut voters feel the same way.

Democracy is on the ballot all over the country and here in Connecticut, for every single open elected office. Please join me in voting to keep it.

Connecticut Republicans this election year shouldn’t be allowed to play their hide-from-Trump games, pretending that it doesn’t matter that they are running in sensible Connecticut as representatives of a national party of abortion bans, pro-Russian isolationism and election denial.

Who cares if Connecticut Republicans could lower electric rates or better manage the state budget than Democrats if they also represent a party committed to blowing up American democracy?

I know a lot of Connecticut Republican candidates this year are in their bunkers, hoping the Trump storm passes. I’m sure some of them even hope he loses and fades quickly.

Those realistic, cowering Republicans don’t want to confront the avowed Trumpists in their party, whom they need to get elected, but also don’t want to offend the Trump alarmists, like me.

Please, those of you who respect the democratic system of fair and free elections that has gotten us this far, don’t let them get away with it.

It’s not that hard for Republicans to reject Trump. A lot of prominent GOP players around the country have done so, and many more are joining the movement.

Look at former U.S. Rep. Chris Shays for inspiration of GOP Trump renunciation. Shays is, after all, one of the few Connecticut Republicans who managed to get blue Connecticut to send him to Washington.

Labor Day has passed. It’s already chilly in the mornings, waiting for the school bus.

The election is kicking into high gear here in Connecticut, and I hope Connecticut voters keep in mind through it all what’s at stake this year for the country.

Here in eastern Connecticut, I’m going to keep reminding everyone of the implicit support of Trump, at the head of their ticket, for every GOP office seeker, unless they specifically renounce him.

That means we have running for reelection here candidates like Heather “Trumper” Somers of Groton, for state Senate, and Greg “Trumper” Howard of Stonington, Holly “Trumper” Cheeseman of East Lyme and Devin “Trumper” Carney of Old Lyme, for the Connecticut House.

That’s how I’ll think of and identify those candidates this election season, unless they say otherwise.

They should all be remembered, too, as Trumpers, long after the addled old felon they now support is gone.

Former Rep. Mike France, running for U.S. Congress in the Second District, is a full-on Trump supporter, so I’m sure he’s glad to be known as “Trumper” France. It’s a compliment for him.

Doug Dubitsky of Chaplin is also a forthright Trumper.

It’s election season. We still have a thriving democracy with free and fair elections.

Let’s use them wisely here in Connecticut to make sure we have many, many more.

Reject Trump and all who won’t when it comes time to vote.

This is the opinion of David Collins

d.collins@theday.com