GOP Senator Flake Endorses Kamala Harris

Former Republican Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona has announced his support for Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, in the upcoming presidential election. Flake’s endorsement is notable as he joins a growing list of Republican figures who have crossed party lines to back the Harris-Walz ticket. Flake, who previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey until earlier this month, shared his decision on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, emphasizing his belief in the rule of law and the importance of supporting a candidate who respects democratic principles.

In his statement, Flake expressed concerns about the potential misuse of presidential power to overturn election results, clearly referencing former President Donald Trump without mentioning him directly. He explained his decision to endorse Harris as one based on a commitment to preserving democracy and promoting unity. Flake highlighted that Harris’ leadership would bring the country together, in contrast to divisive rhetoric that has polarized the political landscape in recent years.

Flake’s decision to back Harris is part of a broader trend of prominent Republicans breaking with Trump and expressing concerns about the direction of the Republican Party. This movement gained traction when more than 100 former Republican staffers and national security officials issued a joint statement on September 18 under the banner of “Reagan, Bush, McCain & Romney Alumni for Harris.” The group criticized Trump’s actions during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, denouncing his national security record and calling for a return to constitutional values.

Among these figures is Alberto Gonzales, who served as U.S. Attorney General under President George W. Bush. In an op-ed published in Politico on September 12, Gonzales stated that Trump represented “the most serious threat to the rule of law in a generation,” further underscoring the concerns of many Republican stalwarts about the former president’s disregard for democratic norms.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney, an influential figure in conservative politics, made waves when he announced on September 6 that he would cast his vote for Harris. Cheney, who served under President George W. Bush, called Trump a “threat to our republic” and implored his fellow citizens to prioritize the defense of the Constitution over partisan loyalty. Cheney’s endorsement was closely followed by that of his daughter, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, a long-time critic of Trump who had been an outspoken figure during the January 6 investigations. Speaking at Duke University, Liz Cheney revealed she had given serious thought to her vote and ultimately chose to back Harris due to the threat she believed Trump posed to the country’s democratic institutions.

Another high-profile defection came from Jimmy McCain, son of the late GOP Senator John McCain, who disclosed on September 3 that he had changed his voter registration to Democrat in order to support Harris. McCain cited his disgust with Trump’s behavior during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where one of Trump’s staffers reportedly had a physical altercation with a cemetery worker. McCain’s shift is seen as symbolic of the widening rift within the Republican Party, especially among those who value traditional conservative principles and decorum.

Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, one of the most prominent Republican critics of Trump, had previously endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020 but has now thrown his support behind Harris. Speaking at the Democratic National Convention in August, Kinzinger urged Americans to vote for Harris to prevent a return to what he described as the lawlessness of the Trump administration. His words were echoed by Georgia’s former Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, who also spoke at the DNC and called on Republicans to embrace Harris in the name of patriotism rather than partisanship.

Several former Trump administration officials have also turned against their former boss in favor of Harris. Stephanie Grisham, who served as Trump’s White House press secretary, voiced her support for the Harris-Walz ticket at the DNC. Grisham condemned Trump’s lack of empathy and commitment to truth, while praising Harris for her respect for the American people and democratic norms. Another former Trump official, Anthony Scaramucci, who had a brief stint as White House communications director, expressed his confidence in Harris’ leadership, particularly noting her potential to make sound decisions on emerging issues like cryptocurrency.

The upcoming presidential election between Harris and Trump is expected to be one of the most closely contested in recent memory. Following President Biden’s withdrawal from the race in late July, Harris took over the top of the Democratic ticket. Since then, she has made significant gains in polling, erasing much of the lead Trump had built after Biden’s widely criticized first debate performance. According to recent surveys, the race remains tight in key battleground states. A New York Times/Siena College poll released over the weekend showed Harris and Trump in a dead heat in Michigan, while Harris held a narrow lead in Wisconsin. National polling averages from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics give Harris a slight advantage, with her lead hovering between 2 and 2.8 points.

Despite these endorsements, Trump’s campaign has remained dismissive of the Republicans backing Harris. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, told the Washington Post that “nobody cares what these disgruntled and deranged people have to say,” referring to Flake, Cheney, and others who have endorsed Harris. Leavitt asserted that Trump continues to enjoy overwhelming support from the Republican base and is polling better than he did in 2016 and 2020.

However, Trump has also secured endorsements from former Democrats, most notably Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who endorsed Trump in August after ending his own presidential campaign. Former Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who has often criticized her former party, also threw her support behind Trump shortly after. Both Kennedy and Gabbard were reportedly added to Trump’s transition team following their endorsements.

In an effort to appeal to voters across the aisle, Harris has indicated she would consider appointing a Republican to her cabinet if elected. During a late-August interview with CNN, Harris emphasized her desire to represent all Americans, though she has not yet named any potential Republican appointees. Historically, it has not been uncommon for presidents to appoint members of the opposing party to their cabinets, a practice seen during the administrations of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.