In a surprising turn of events, numerous prominent Republicans have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential race, following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the contest.
The announcement of a new grassroots program, “Republicans for Harris,” was made on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, marking a significant shift in political alliances as Harris becomes the presumptive Democratic nominee.
President Biden’s decision to exit the race on July 21 came after weeks of internal debate within the Democratic Party, intensified by his controversial debate performance against former President Donald Trump in Atlanta. Biden’s endorsement of Harris solidifies her position as the Democratic candidate likely to face Trump, who is expected to secure the GOP nomination.
Among the Republicans endorsing Harris is former Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who voiced his support on X, formerly known as Twitter. Kinzinger, a critic of Trump, stressed a commitment to the Constitution over personal loyalty, stating:
“Endorsing American democracy and the future today, and leaving the past in the dust. I’m endorsing @KamalaHarris.”
Kinzinger, along with former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney, served on the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
The committee scrutinized the events leading up to the riot, during which Trump supporters attempted to disrupt the certification of Biden’s 2020 election victory. Trump had continuously and falsely claimed widespread voter fraud.
The list of Republican supporters for Harris includes former Congress members such as:
- Rod Chandler (Washington),
- Tom Coleman (Missouri),
- Dave Emery (Maine),
- Wayne Gilchrest (Maryland),
- Jim Greenwood (Pennsylvania),
- John LeBoutillier (New York),
- Susan Molinari (New York),
- Jack Quinn (New York),
- Denver Riggleman (Virginia),
- Claudine Schneider (Rhode Island),
- Christopher Shays (Connecticut),
- Peter Smith (Vermont),
- Alan Steelman (Texas),
- David Trott (Michigan), and
- Joe Walsh (Illinois).
Notably, former Trump administration officials Stephanie Grisham and Olivia Troye have also joined the Harris endorsement.
Grisham, who served as chief of staff to First Lady Melania Trump, resigned shortly after the January 6 riot. She expressed confidence in Harris’s ability to “fight for our freedom, protect our democracy, and represent America with honor and dignity on the world stage.”
Troye, a former advisor to then-Vice President Mike Pence and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, highlighted her firsthand experience of chaos within the Trump administration.
“As a lifelong Republican, I may not agree with Kamala Harris on everything, but I trust her to protect our freedoms, uphold the rule of law, and provide steady leadership on the world stage,” she stated.
Former Republican governors Jim Edgar (Illinois), Bill Weld (Massachusetts), and Christine Todd Whitman (New Jersey) also endorsed Harris, along with former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan and former Mesa, Arizona, Mayor John Giles.
Giles called on fellow Arizona Republicans to prioritize the country’s welfare over party loyalty, echoing the sentiment of the late Senator John McCain.
Other significant endorsements include former U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, former GOP state chair and state Senator Chris Vance (Washington), Reed Howard of Young Republicans for Harris, and former Republican National Committee (RNC) delegate Rina Shah.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, Harris’s cross-party endorsements signal a growing movement among Republicans who reject Trump’s leadership and seek a candidate they believe can unite and lead the country with integrity.
