In a surprising political pairing, former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) took the stage with Vice President Kamala Harris in Ripon, Wisconsin where she urged voters to “reject the depraved cruelty of Donald Trump” and support Harris’s candidacy. The event, held on Thursday, October 3, 2024, was Cheney’s first public endorsement of Harris, which drew immediate reaction from Trump.
Trump quickly responded on Truth Social, deriding Cheney and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, saying, “What a pathetic couple that is, both suffering gravely from Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
Liz Cheney’s father, Dick Cheney, also threw his support behind Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election, joining her in a rare cross-party endorsement. On September 6, 2024, Cheney publicly expressed his opposition to former President Donald Trump, whom he described as “the greatest threat to our republic.”
Trump, who has clashed with Liz Cheney over her role in the January 6 committee, added that Cheney had helped incite the Capitol attack, describing her as a “low IQ War Hawk.”
During the event, Cheney made it clear that her criticisms were not personal but rooted in her concerns about the country’s future. “In this election, putting patriotism ahead of partisanship is not an aspiration,” Cheney said. “It is our duty.” Her remarks drew applause from the crowd as she continued to advocate for voters to consider Harris a viable alternative to Trump in the upcoming election.
The growing camaraderie between Cheney and Harris reflects the Vice President’s campaign strategy to reach disaffected Republicans. By aligning with a staunch conservative like Cheney, Harris aims to tap into a demographic open to crossing party lines. Cheney, who was ousted from her House seat after condemning Trump, also acknowledged that her political allegiance has become secondary to her concerns about Trump’s influence on the GOP.
In a subsequent media interview, Cheney doubled down on her criticism of Trump, saying that after the Capitol had been overrun on January 6, Trump had commended the rioters rather than denouncing them, highlighting his character.
In addition to the Cheneys, Vice President Harris’ campaign has received endorsements from a growing number of former Republican officials and ex-Trump administration staffers, signaling a significant shift in political allegiances as the election approaches.
Over 100 former GOP officials, including those who served in previous Republican administrations, have publicly declared their support for Harris, citing concerns about former President Trump’s fitness for office and the potential threat he poses to American democracy.
Former Illinois Representative Adam Kinzinger, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August, urged GOP voters to “vote for our bedrock values and vote for Kamala Harris.” Kinzinger said he would “certainly accept a cabinet post under Harris if offered one.”
Jeff Flake, who served as a senator from Arizona for nearly two decades, has endorsed the Democratic ticket. He cited his experience working with Harris in the Senate and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, in the House as reasons for his support. “I would encourage all Republicans who feel this way to do the same,” Flake posted on social media platform X.
The list of Republican endorsements extends beyond elected officials to include former Trump administration staff members. Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as White House Communications Director, and Stephanie Grisham, a former Press Secretary, have both thrown their support behind Harris.
Scaramucci, speaking to MSNBC on the night of the first debate between Harris and Trump, said, “She [Harris] is the person dedicated to service — he’s the person that’s dedicated to self-service.”
Grisham, who also addressed the Democratic National Convention, told the crowd, “Kamala Harris tells the truth. She respects the American people and she has my vote.”
In a notable development, more than 200 former staffers of previous Republican presidential nominees signed an open letter endorsing Harris over Trump. The signatories, including individuals who worked for the Bush and McCain campaigns, warned that a second Trump term would be “untenable” and would “hurt real, everyday people.”
The letter urges “moderate Republicans and conservative independents” to join in supporting Harris and Walz, arguing that another Trump presidency would jeopardize “broad, democratic movements” and potentially lead to the United States abandoning allies while cozying up to dictators.
A group of 24 Wisconsin Republicans also penned an open letter stating that Trump does not align with Wisconsin values and that the Harris-Walz ticket represents the principles of “freedom, democracy, and decency.”
The Harris campaign has capitalized on these Republican endorsements, releasing an ad titled “Unstable Threat” that features 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 shaping up to be a closely contested race.
While these endorsements represent a significant break from party lines, not all former Trump allies have gone as far as endorsing the Democratic ticket. Some, like former Vice President Mike Pence, have refused to endorse Trump but have stopped short of backing Harris.
The Trump campaign has dismissed these Republican endorsements of Harris. In response to the open letter from former 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 intensifies, the Harris-Walz campaign continues to highlight these cross-party endorsements as part of its strategy to attract a broad coalition of voters. The growing list of Republican figures supporting the Democratic ticket underscores the deep divisions within the GOP over Trump’s continued influence and the willingness of some conservatives to prioritize what they see as the country’s interests over traditional party loyalty.