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Jimmy Williams
In a notable political shift, more than 200 Republicans who previously worked for both Bush administrations, the late Senator John McCain, and Senator Mitt Romney have publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
Their endorsement was made in an open letter released on Monday, which comes on the heels of several anti-Trump Republicans speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last week.
The signatories, who had already opposed former President Donald Trump during the 2020 election, now declare their support for Harris and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, in the upcoming election.
“Of course, we have plenty of honest, ideological disagreements with Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz. That’s to be expected,” the letter reads. “The alternative, however, is simply untenable.”
The group voiced strong criticism of Trump’s policies, particularly Project 2025, a blueprint for a potential second Trump term proposed by the Heritage Foundation. They argued that these proposals would harm everyday Americans and undermine key democratic institutions. The letter concludes with an appeal to moderate Republicans and conservative independents to support leaders who seek unity and consensus by voting for Harris and Walz.
“We implore you to take a brave stand once more, to vote for leaders that will strive for consensus, not chaos; that will work to unite, not divide; that will make our country and our children proud,” they urged.
Trump’s campaign quickly dismissed the letter, with spokesperson Steven Cheung remarking that the letter is “hilarious because nobody knows who these people are. They would rather see the country burn down than to see President Trump successfully return to the White House to Make America Great Again.”
Signatories of the letter include prominent figures such as Mark Salter, McCain’s former chief of staff, and Olivia Troye, a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence. Troye had previously spoken against Trump at the recent Democratic National Convention.
This endorsement is part of a broader movement of Republicans who have distanced themselves from Trump and publicly supported Democratic candidates. Similar groups endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020, reflecting the ongoing divide within the Republican Party over Trump’s influence.
Figures such as former President George W. Bush, John McCain, and Mitt Romney have historically criticized Trump’s rhetoric and policies, with Romney notably voting twice to convict Trump during his impeachment trials. Although Bush has not publicly criticized Trump, his actions, including a 2021 fundraiser for Trump critic Liz Cheney, suggest his disapproval.
This latest endorsement underscores the ongoing rift within the Republican Party and the growing number of high-profile Republicans willing to cross party lines to oppose Trump’s return to the White House.
