Over 200 former GOP officials endorse Kamala Harris, reject Trump’s leadership

Almost two hundred former staff members of the George W. Bush, late Sen. John McCain, and Sen. Mitt Romney campaigns have backed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, marking a momentous political breakthrough. In addition to endorsing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the open letter, which was published on Monday by USA Today, exhorts conservative independents and moderate Republicans to support Harris in the next race.

The letter highlights the signatories’ concerns about former President Donald Trump, whom they describe as having led a “chaotic” administration. It echoes their previous warnings from 2020, where they argued that re-electing Trump would jeopardize American democracy. The signatories, including some alumni from George H.W. Bush’s presidency, expressed that despite their ideological differences with Harris and Walz, the alternative—another Trump term—is unacceptable.

“We reunite today, joined by new George H.W. Bush alumni, to reinforce our 2020 statements and, for the first time, jointly declare that we’re voting for Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz this November,” the letter stated. The signatories acknowledge their policy disagreements with Harris but emphasize the critical importance of moving away from Trump’s leadership.

This endorsement follows a separate support from a group of Republican White House lawyers who served under Ronald Reagan and both Bush presidencies, voicing similar concerns about Trump’s potential return to power.

In response, Trump Campaign Communications Director Steven Cheung dismissed the endorsement, labeling it as “hilarious” and questioning the significance of the endorsers. Cheung criticized the former staffers’ position and reiterated Trump’s commitment to his campaign goals, despite ongoing controversies.

The letter concludes with a call for moderate Republicans and conservative independents to once again play a decisive role in shaping the election outcome, stressing the need for leaders who aim to unify rather than divide the nation.