Ex-Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Vice President Kamala Harris made an unexpected political alliance in Ripon, Wisconsin. Cheney implored voters to “reject the depraved cruelty of Donald Trump” and support Harris’s candidacy. Cheney publicly endorsed Harris for the first time at this event, which took place on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Trump promptly reacted to the endorsement.
Trump retorted on Truth Social, ridiculing both Cheney and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, by declaring, “What a pathetic couple that is, both suffering gravely from Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
Dick Cheney, Liz Cheney’s father, had also expressed his support for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, marking a rare cross-party endorsement. On September 6, 2024, he publicly denounced former President Donald Trump, labeling him as “the greatest threat to our republic.”
Trump, who has repeatedly clashed with Liz Cheney over her involvement in the January 6 committee, asserted that Cheney had contributed to inciting the Capitol attack, depicting her as a “low IQ War Hawk.”
Cheney clarified during the event that her criticisms were not personal but founded in her worries about the country’s future. “In this election, putting patriotism ahead of partisanship is not an aspiration,” she stated. “It is our duty.” Cheney received applause from the crowd as she continued to promote Harris as a plausible alternative to Trump in the upcoming election.
The burgeoning friendship between Cheney and Harris mirrors the Vice President’s campaign tactic to attract disillusioned Republicans. Through aligning with a committed conservative like Cheney, Harris aims to appeal to a demographic open to crossing party lines. Cheney, who lost her House seat after criticizing Trump, also admitted that her political loyalty has become subordinate to her concerns about Trump’s sway on the GOP.
In a following media interview, Cheney reinforced her critique of Trump, noting that he praised the rioters instead of condemning them after the Capitol was breached on January 6, thus revealing his character.
Along with the Cheneys, a growing number of former Republican officials and ex-Trump administration staffers have endorsed Vice President Harris’ campaign, indicating a major shift in political loyalties as the election nears.
Over 100 former GOP officials, including those who worked in past Republican administrations, have openly declared their support for Harris, expressing concerns about former President Trump’s suitability for office and the potential danger he poses to American democracy.
Former Representative Adam Kinzinger from Illinois, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August, urged GOP voters to “vote for our bedrock values and vote for Kamala Harris.” Kinzinger revealed he would “certainly accept a cabinet post under Harris if offered one.”
Jeff Flake, a former senator from Arizona, endorsed the Democratic ticket. He cited his experience collaborating with Harris in the Senate and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, in the House as reasons for his support. Flake encouraged all Republicans who share his sentiment to follow suit on social media platform X.
The Republican endorsements include not only elected officials but also former Trump administration staff members. Anthony Scaramucci, ex-White House Communications Director, and Stephanie Grisham, former Press Secretary, have both endorsed Harris.
Scaramucci, in an interview with MSNBC on the night of the first debate between Harris and Trump, stated, “She [Harris] is the person dedicated to service — he’s the person that’s dedicated to self-service.”
Grisham, who also spoke at the Democratic National Convention, told the attendees, “Kamala Harris tells the truth. She respects the American people and she has my vote.”
In a significant development, more than 200 staffers of previous Republican presidential nominees signed an open letter endorsing Harris over Trump. The signees, including those who worked for the Bush and McCain campaigns, cautioned that a second Trump term would be “untenable” and would “hurt real, everyday people.”
The letter encourages “moderate Republicans and conservative independents” to support Harris and Walz, arguing that another Trump presidency would endanger “broad, democratic movements” and could result in the United States forsaking allies and embracing dictators.
A group of 24 Wisconsin Republicans drafted an open letter, asserting that Trump does not reflect Wisconsin values and that the Harris-Walz ticket embodies the principles of “freedom, democracy, and decency.”
The Harris campaign leveraged these Republican endorsements, releasing an ad titled “Unstable Threat” that highlights critical comments about Trump from his former allies. This strategy underscores the campaign’s efforts to appeal to Republican-leaning and undecided voters in what is projected to be a tightly contested race.
While these endorsements represent a significant departure from party lines, not all former Trump allies have endorsed the Democratic ticket. Some, like former Vice President Mike Pence, have refrained from endorsing Trump but have not endorsed Harris either.
The Trump campaign has dismissed these Republican endorsements of Harris. In response to the open letter from ex-GOP presidential staffers, the campaign characterized the signatories as unknown individuals who would “rather see the country burn down” than witness Trump’s return to the White House.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the Harris-Walz campaign continues to highlight these cross-party endorsements as part of its strategy to attract a wide coalition of voters. The increasing list of Republican figures supporting the Democratic ticket emphasizes the deep divisions within the GOP over Trump’s continued influence and the readiness of some conservatives to prioritize the country’s interests over traditional party loyalty.
