More than 200 staffers for four previous Republican presidential nominees have endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris’ White House bid, cautioning that the notion of a second term for GOP nominee Donald Trump is “simply untenable” and “will hurt real, everyday people.” The signatories, including individuals who worked for former President George H.W. Bush, former President George W. Bush, former Arizona Sen. John McCain, and Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, are calling on their fellow “moderate Republicans and conservative independents” to support Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. They acknowledge their ideological disagreements but stress that the alternative of four more years of Trump is unacceptable.
Notable signatories of the open letter endorsing Harris include Reed Galen, co-founder of The Lincoln Project, and Olivia Troye, a former homeland security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence. The letter warns that another term of Trump’s leadership, particularly focused on advancing the goals of Project 2025, will have negative consequences for everyday people and weaken democratic movements. They criticize Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, for cozying up to dictators like Vladimir Putin and turning their backs on allies, posing a significant threat to democratic institutions.
In response to the letter, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, Steven Cheung, dismissed the signatories, stating that they are not well-known and implying that they would rather see the country burn down than see Trump return to the White House. The statement from the Trump campaign reflects the ongoing divide within the Republican Party as Election Day approaches. The letter follows a similar endorsement from some of the same signatories in 2020 supporting Joe Biden’s candidacy over Trump, highlighting the continued efforts of Republicans to distance themselves from the current administration.
The tactic of attracting bipartisan support has been utilized by both Trump and Harris as they seek to secure votes in the upcoming election. While some Republicans, such as Mesa, Arizona Mayor John Giles and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, have spoken in favor of Harris at the Democratic National Convention, former fringe members of the Democratic Party, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, have endorsed Trump. The endorsements from individuals across the political spectrum underscore the complex dynamics of the current political landscape and the shifting allegiances within both parties as they navigate a divisive election season.
As Election Day approaches, the endorsements and statements from various political figures serve as a reminder of the deep divides and conflicting loyalties within the Republican Party and the broader political spectrum. The letter from former Republican staffers endorsing Harris underscores a growing sentiment among some conservatives that a second term for Trump would have detrimental effects on the country. Meanwhile, the endorsements of Trump by former Democrats highlight the complexities of political allegiances and the ways in which candidates are seeking to appeal to a diverse range of voters in the lead-up to the election. The coming months are likely to see further shifts and surprises as the race for the White House intensifies.
