Here’s why these Republican ex-lawmakers and administration officials are backing Kamala Harris OVER Donald Trump

By Morgan Phillips, U.S. Political Reporter For Dailymail.Com

Published: | Updated:

The Harris campaign boasts dozens of Republican supporters, including former governors, members of Congress and even ex-Trump administration officials. 

A new rollout of the endorsements included a number of names that were already openly critical of the former president like former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham, former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Ill., and ex-Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. 

Olivia Troye, former national security advisor to then-Vice President Mike Pence, was also included on the list. 

So was Chuck Hagel, who served in the Senate as a Republican from Nebraska but worked as Barack Obama‘s defense secretary. Ray Lahood, Obama’s Transportation secretary and a former Republican House member, also endorsed Harris.  

‘I was a proud Republican, but Donald Trump is unfit to lead our nation. We saw during his four years in office how he consistently chose himself, his pursuit of power, and his billionaire friends over the American people while spewing lies and spreading chaos at every turn,’ Christine Todd Whitman, a Republican ex-governor from New Jersey and EPA administrator under President George W. Bush, said in a statement. 

The list of endorsements was circulated on Sunday, as Harris is expected to announce her running mate pick soon.  

A new rollout of the endorsements included a number of names that were already openly critical of the former president like former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham

Ray Lahood, Obama’s Transportation secretary and a former Republican House member, also endorsed Harris

Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan – who soured on Trump over his election fraud claims in the Peach State in 2020 – was on the list of endorsements, along with ex-Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar. Former House Reps. Denver Riggleman, Va., Susan Molinari, N.Y., among others. Thirty names were included on the list. 

Missing from the list was ex-Rep. Liz Cheney, Wyo., an outspoken Trump critic and a key member of the January 6 subcommittee. She was removed from her House leadership post over criticisms of Trump and his fight against the 2020 election results. 

She has yet to speak out to make an endorsement in the race. 

Many being touted by the Harris campaign cited the January 6th riot in their public break from Trump.  

Harris, right, pictured with possible VP pick, PA Gov. Josh Shapiro 

The Harris campaign boasts dozens of Republican supporters, including former governors, members of Congress and even ex-Trump administration officials

‘Serving as his chief spokesperson and one of the longest-serving members of his team, I saw firsthand the lengths Trump was willing to go to stay in power as he did on January 6th, and the lies he so easily told Americans,’ Grisham said in a statement. 

‘I might not agree with Vice President Kamala Harris on everything, but I know that she will fight for our freedom,’ she went on. ‘I encourage other Trump administration officials who saw the tyrant we worked for in office to speak out.’ 

‘As a proud conservative, I never thought I’d be endorsing a Democrat,’ said Kinzinger.

‘Trump poses a direct threat to fundamental American values. He only cares about himself, and his pursuit of power. That’s what we saw on January 6 when he sent a mob to overturn our lawful election,’ he went on. ‘There’s too much at stake to sit on the sidelines.’  

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