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Former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger supports Harris

Former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger supports Harris

Topline

Former Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Wednesday that he will vote for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in November, joining a growing list of Republican lawmakers and big names who have declared that they will cross party lines in the upcoming elections.

Important facts

Schwarzeneggerwho served as governor of California from 2003 to 2011, said in a post on “The outcome of an election is as un-American as it gets.”

Two Republicans from New Hampshire – former attorney general Tom Rath and former US Senator. Gordon Humphrey— said Tuesday that they would vote for Harris, with Humphrey telling a local television station that while he had “voted Republican for more than 50 years,” he couldn't vote for Trump, who he said was a threat to the security, peace, etc. Democracy and freedom, and Rath said this election “goes completely beyond any partisan identification.”

Upton of Michigan – who retired after voting to impeach former President Donald Trump – said on Oct. 24 that he had already voted for Harris and told the New York Times in a statement that Trump was “unable to do so again.” to serve as commander in chief” and his behavior is “unhinged” while he believes Harris will “bring people together.”

Wisconsin State Senator. Robert CowlesA Green Bay Republican who has been in office for more than 40 years also said Oct. 24 he would vote for Harris, telling a local radio station that Trump was a “totalitarian” and “fascist” who “will be defeated must”. ” and added: “The country will move on, even with some liberal things Harris may or may not do.”

Shawn Reilly, The The mayor of Waukesha, Wisconsin — a Republican city that Trump won in a key swing state in 2016 and 2020 — endorsed Harris on Oct. 23, saying his vote was “a vote against Trump,” adding, “I'm scared from Donald Trump becoming ours.” Next President: He has already been impeached twice. He was convicted of crimes and that is not what the United States needs.”

Former Senator from Arizona Jeff Flake— a Republican who served as ambassador to Turkey until earlier this month — said in a statement posted on X on Sept. 29 that he supports the Harris-Walz ticket because he believes in the rule of law and wants to support a candidate who “the…” respects the will of the voters and would never attempt to use the powers of the presidency to overturn an election” and “seeks to unite our country” rather than divide it.

More than 100 former staffers and national security leaders from previous Republican administrations endorsed Harris on September 18 and issued a statement from the group Reagan, Bush, McCain & Romney Alumni for Harris condemning and criticizing Trump's actions on January 6, 2021 its national security record.

Alberto Gonzalesformer U.S. attorney general and presidential adviser under George W. Bush, endorsed Harris in a Sept. 12 editorial published in Politico, saying Trump was “perhaps the greatest threat to the rule of law in a generation.” .”

Former Vice President Dick Cheney said on Sept. 6 he would vote for Harris, called former President Donald Trump a “threat to our republic” and said U.S. citizens have “a duty to put our country above partisanship to defend our Constitution.” “

Former Rep. Liz CheneyR-Wyo., announced just two days before her father that she would also support Harris, telling a crowd at Duke University that she had “thought deeply about her vote” and Harris “because of the danger that Donald Trump threatens, supports.” Poses.”

The son of former vice presidential candidate and Republican Senator John McCain, Jimmy McCainsaid on Sept. 3 that he had changed his voter registration to Democratic and planned to support Harris, citing Trump's visit to Arlington National Cemetery during which one of his staffers reportedly pushed a cemetery worker.

Former staunch Trump critic Rep. Adam KinzingerR-Ill., spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August and urged people to vote for Harris after previously endorsing President Joe Biden for president.

Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan also spoke at the DNC and endorsed Harris, saying, “Let me be clear to my Republican friends at home watching: If you vote for Kamala Harris in 2024, you are not a Democrat, you are a patriot.”

Stephanie Grishama Trump White House press secretary, also voiced his support for Harris at the DNC, telling the crowd that Trump has “no empathy, no morals and no loyalty to the truth” while Harris “respects the American people.”

John GilesMayor of Mesa, Arizona, endorsed Harris at the DNC and urged other Republicans to also vote across the aisle, saying the GOP has been “hijacked by extremists” and a good Republican wouldn't vote for someone who “a” is a danger to our Republic and someone who has no respect for our Constitution.”

Former Republican Representative. Barbara ComstockVirginia, said on CNN on August 18 that she would vote for Harris, citing the January 6, 2021 riots, Trump's refusal to acknowledge that he lost the 2020 election and “his threats to democracy.”

Former MP Denver RigglemanR-Va., also said he would vote for Harris in August, releasing a statement saying, “Trump's hunger for power, revenge and retaliation is his true motivation,” and Riggleman later announced he would vote in his Country had not elected a single Republican vote.

Anthony Scaramucciwho served as White House communications director under Trump, said in a July 24 post on I look forward to seeing their policies on crypto.

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Which former Trump officials wouldn't support him for president?

Trump's longest-serving chief of staff and former Homeland Security secretary John Kelly spoke to The New York Times in late October and expressed concern about a second Trump presidency. Kelly said Trump is a fascist, “favors the dictatorial approach to government” and that Trump has a fundamental misunderstanding of history and the Constitution. Despite his anti-Trump comments, Kelly has not directly endorsed Harris – although she has stood by his comments during recent events. Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence also did not support Trump and will not do so. He said: “I believe that anyone who puts themselves above the Constitution should never be president of the United States.” Other former Trump officials also spoke out and advised against re-election of the former president: The former defense secretary Mark Esper said Trump was “a threat to democracy” and “former national security adviser John Bolton said he was “unfit to be president.” ”

Which Republicans will not support a candidate?

A spokesman for former President George W. Bush said in September that he would not support a presidential candidate because he “retired from presidential politics years ago.” Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah also said he would not support any candidate. He said earlier this month that he had made it clear that he did not want Trump elected, but said he wanted to “continue to have a voice in the Republican Party after this election” so he would not support Harris.

Important background

The race between Harris and Trump is expected to be closely contested in November. After Biden dropped out of the presidential race in late July, handing the lead to Harris, she nearly wiped out the lead that Trump had built after Biden's poor performance in the first debate. The vice president was just ahead of Trump in the latest polls, but the two are in a razor-thin race in most swing states.

Big number

1.7. That's how many points Harris is ahead of Trump on Thursday, according to FiveThirtyEight's national polling average. The RealClearPolitics national average shows Harris with a lead of 0.2 points.

Main critic

Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump campaign, told the Washington Post that “no one cares what these angry and deranged people have to say,” referring to Republicans who support Harris. “President Trump is overwhelmingly supported by the majority of Republicans and has performed better in the polls than at any time in 2016 and 2020,” she added. Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham also criticized Republicans' support for Harris on Sunday, addressing her directly on NBC's “Meet the Press” and saying, “What the hell are you doing?”…supporting her “The most radical candidate in the history of American politics.” He continued: While some people say Trump's rhetoric is a danger to the country, the real “danger to this country is the policies of Biden and Harris.”

Cons

At least two former Democrats have endorsed Trump. Former Democratic candidate-turned-independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed Trump in August after he ended his presidential campaign, and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, endorsed Trump shortly afterward. The former president added both Kennedy and Gabbard to his transition team after their approval.

tangent

In an interview on CNN in late August, Harris said she would add a Republican to her Cabinet if elected to represent “all Americans.” She didn't specify who she had in mind and for what role. Presidents Biden and Trump did not appoint Cabinet members from across the aisle, but that is not unusual: George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama all did so.

Further reading

ForbesLiz Cheney says she will vote for Kamala Harris – citing 'danger' posed by TrumpForbesDick Cheney says he's voting for Kamala Harris: 'Country over partisanship'ForbesKamala Harris says she would add a Republican to her Cabinet if electedWashington PostThe Harris team is quietly courting the support of prominent RepublicansForbesSwing state polls for the 2024 election: Trump is tightening the race in these two Harris strongholds

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