There are so many traitors in the GOP.
On Sunday, a new grassroots initiative, “Republicans for Harris,” was launched, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election. This announcement comes in the wake of President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race on July 21. Biden’s exit followed intense internal Democratic debates about whether he should step aside for a new generation of leaders, particularly after a challenging debate with former President Donald Trump in Atlanta last June. Biden’s endorsement of Harris on the day he exited the race has positioned her as the likely Democratic nominee, setting the stage for a potential face-off with Trump, the GOP’s presumptive candidate.
The “Republicans for Harris” campaign aims to engage with the millions of Republicans who have grown “disillusioned” with the direction of Trump’s leadership and his ambitious Project 2025 agenda. This initiative seeks to counter what the campaign describes as the chaos, division, and unrest associated with Trump’s administration.
Project 2025, developed by The Heritage Foundation, proposes substantial reforms to the federal government if Trump wins the next election. Trump, however, has distanced himself from the project, asserting that it does not reflect his campaign’s official stance and that he alone will determine which recommendations, if any, will be adopted if he is reelected.
The Harris campaign’s announcement also highlighted several notable Republicans, both current and former, who have publicly backed her. Among them is former Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who expressed his support on social media, citing a commitment to constitutional principles over personal ego. Kinzinger, alongside former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney, had served on the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, which was fueled by Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud.
Other former GOP members endorsing Harris include Rod Chandler of Washington, Tom Coleman of Missouri, Dave Emery of Maine, and several others from various states. Additionally, former Trump administration officials Stephanie Grisham and Olivia Troye have joined the initiative. Grisham, who served in several communications roles, including as chief of staff to Melania Trump, has stated that while she might not align with Harris on every issue, she trusts Harris to uphold democratic values and lead with dignity. Troye, a former Homeland Security and Counterterrorism adviser, has criticized a second Trump term as a path to increased turmoil and voiced her support for Harris in the interest of protecting freedoms and upholding the rule of law.
Endorsements have also come from former Republican governors such as Jim Edgar of Illinois, Bill Weld of Massachusetts, Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey, and former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, all of whom have expressed a commitment to defeating Trump through their support for Harris. Former Mesa, Arizona, Mayor John Giles also voiced his support, calling on fellow Republicans to prioritize the nation’s well-being over party loyalty.
This burgeoning support for Harris among former Republicans highlights a significant shift in political alignments and reflects ongoing divisions within the GOP over Trump’s influence and the future direction of the party.