You can keep relationships across political lines by being curious about their choices, respecting a different path, or simply not caring.
The idea
On Election Day 2024 I wrote about a dark trend: allegiance to one political issue had turned into rejecting anyone without the same bumper stickers. My invitation was to love the person without having to love their politics. You still get your own criteria for who you keep close; not everyone is invited to Sunday brunch. But you'll usually find far more common ground when you search for it. Abraham Lincoln: "I don't like that man. I must get to know him better."
How to do it
Pick the stance you can honestly hold:
Be curious about their decisions.
Respect that they've had a different life path.
Don't care at all.
Example
At the height of the mask-or-not fights, a friend challenged me to grant full amnesty, in my own mind, to anyone who'd taken a different position once the pandemic was in the past. It wasn't easy, but I'm glad I did. In mid-2024, one of my open questions was "How can I understand people whose political views are the complete opposite of mine?"
Twelve Open Questions: Keep about a dozen open questions in your head, Feynman-style. Being interesting starts with being curious.
Everyone Is Fighting a Hidden Battle: Watch for clues someone is struggling (energy shifts, avoided topics, repeated themes) and adjust how you show up, without fixing or prying.
Who Do I Need to Forgive Today?: Add one journaling question, "Who or what do I need to forgive today?", to clear the grudges and guilt that quietly block outreach.
Connect With the Whole Human: Treat prospects, colleagues and friends the same way, with genuine interest in the person behind the title and the professional facade.