I'm blessed with being married to someone who's (quite literally) making a second career out of following my state's races, all the way down to the smallest of them for our area at least. I do basic research, but overall, I trust his judgment when he tells me the facts.

I also don't vote "straight" party ticket - ie, I'll possibly vary it in the "higher" races before I get that far - but if all else fails I'll vote Dem even if I've never heard of the person.