Former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, becoming the latest high-profile Republican to cross party lines in support of Democrats. Cheney’s endorsement came at a recent appearance at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy.
During her address, Cheney stressed the “danger that Donald Trump poses” to the country. “Not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris,” she said in a video of her statements posted on X, the platform that was previously known as Twitter. Duke University also provided NBC News with a separate video footage of Cheney’s remarks.
Cheney, who had previously had a leadership position in the Republican caucus, was removed because of her open criticism of Trump. She cautioned that a second Trump term might result in a prolonged presidency, with Trump wanting to remain in power beyond the conventional four-year term. On NBC’s “TODAY” show, Cheney restated her position: “I will never vote for Donald Trump, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure he is defeated in 2024.”
The former congresswoman also urged voters, especially in swing regions, to take the present political climate seriously. She emphasized the necessity of not wasting votes by writing in other candidates’ names. “We do not have the luxury of writing in candidates’ names,” Cheney said.
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Not all Republicans are pleased with Cheney’s decision. Senator JD Vance of Ohio, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, took aim at Cheney during a recent event hosted by the conservative group Turning Point Action. “A very good thing about the next presidency of Donald J. Trump,” Vance commented, “is that he’s going to make sure people like Liz Cheney are laughed out of the Oval Office instead of rewarded.”
Cheney’s endorsement comes as an increasing number of Republicans distance themselves from Trump. In August, the Harris campaign announced more than two dozen Republican endorsements, many of whom have been outspoken critics of Trump’s policies and campaign.
Cheney is not alone in supporting the Democratic ticket. Former Representative Adam Kinzinger, who worked with Cheney on the January 6th Commission, has also endorsed Harris. Kinzinger, who formerly supported President Joe Biden, has been a vocal critic of Trump, claiming at the Democratic National Convention that he has “suffocated the soul” of the GOP.
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In 2022, Cheney lost her Republican primary against a Trump-backed candidate, demonstrating the previous president’s continued power within the party. Cheney, who was first elected to the House in 2016, remains an outspoken critic of Trump, aligning herself with those in the Republican Party who want to move away from his brand of politics.
Cheney’s support for Kamala Harris highlights the Republican Party’s fissures, as some members prioritize defeating Donald Trump over party allegiance.
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