Here comes the cavalry
There are many registered Republicans who dislike Donald Trump but aren’t thrilled with the idea of crossing party lines. If you have friends or family who fit this description, you can suggest they tune into this recent development: a fast-growing number of prominent Republicans have been announcing that they will cast their vote for Harris-Walz because they believe it is critical for the future of the United States.
High-profile Republican voices spoke passionately at the recent Democratic National Convention in Chicago. One such example is Mesa, Arizona Mayor John Giles, who said, “I feel more at home here than in today’s Republican Party.” He noted that he attends “ribbon cuttings every single week, all because Joe Biden and Kamala Harris reached across the aisle, and they delivered for my conservative community and countless more across the country.” Giles ended his speech by urging everyone to “turn the page” and “put the country first.”
Soon after Harris announced her candidacy, her campaign launched Republicans for Harris, which has been gaining traction. One notable endorsement is from Judge J. Michael Luttig. Having retired after serving as an attorney for Republican administrations and then as a conservative federal judge, Luttig warned a year ago that today’s GOP puts American democracy “in grave peril.” Luttig has recently announced that he will be voting for a Democrat for the first time.
On Friday, a dozen former White House attorneys, including Luttig, who worked under the Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush administrations, appeared on Fox News to reveal a letter they wrote in support of Harris for President. These prominent Republicans warned that a second Trump term would “threaten American democracy and undermine the rule of law in our country.” As a result, the lawyers made a direct appeal to their party, saying that “we urge all patriotic Republicans, former Republicans, conservative and center-right citizens, and independent voters to place love of country above party and ideology and join us in supporting Kamala Harris.”
Finally, on Monday, over 200 former campaign workers for George W. Bush, Sen. John McCain, and Sen. Mitt Romney, endorsed Harris in an open letter obtained by USA Today. While admitting that “we have plenty of honest, ideological disagreements with Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz,” the aides wrote that the idea of another Trump term “is simply untenable.”
Republican voters who are on the fence or just don’t feel comfortable voting for a Democrat of course have the right to proceed as they see fit. However, you can tell any friends and relatives in this position that if they vote for Harris-Walz, they would be joining a growing chorus of Republicans who are not only applying their principles to their decision-making but are loudly urging others to follow suit. Supporting America’s democracy is a great cause, and these Republicans know it.
Ron Leshnower is a lawyer and the author of several books, including President Trump’s Month