Former Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican who has been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, made headlines recently when she announced that she would be voting for Vice President Kamala Harris for president. This surprising declaration came during a speech at Duke University, where Cheney expressed her concerns about the threat that Trump poses to the country.
“I don’t believe that we have the luxury of writing in candidates’ names, particularly in swing states,” Cheney stated. “As a conservative and someone who deeply cares about the Constitution, I have thought long and hard about this decision. Because of the danger that Donald Trump represents, I will not only be abstaining from voting for him, but I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris instead.” Her remarks were met with resounding applause from the audience, with many attendees rising to their feet in support of her decision.
Cheney, who previously served on the congressional committee that investigated the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, has been a vocal critic of Trump’s role in inciting the violence that day. In January, she called for Trump to be disqualified from running for office due to his actions related to the attack. While the Colorado Supreme Court initially ruled that Trump was ineligible to appear on the state’s primary ballot because of his involvement in the riot, the U.S. Supreme Court later overturned this decision, stating that states cannot bar a former president from running for office based on his actions.
“We must be prepared to ensure that we can defeat him at the ballot box, which I believe we will ultimately be able to do,” Cheney remarked in an interview with “Face the Nation” earlier this year. Her decision to support Harris in the upcoming election reflects her belief that Harris is the best candidate to lead the country and protect its democratic values.
Following Cheney’s announcement, the Harris-Walz 2024 campaign chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon, released a statement expressing Harris’s gratitude for Cheney’s endorsement. “For any American who is seeking to reject the chaos and division of Donald Trump, and pursue a new path forward that upholds our freedoms and defends our American values, there is a place for you in the Harris-Walz coalition,” Dillon stated. The campaign will continue to work to earn the support of moderate Republicans and independents who are looking for a change in leadership.
Cheney is just one of many Republicans who have recently come out in support of Harris. Over 200 Republicans who previously worked for President George H.W. Bush, President George W. Bush, Sen. John McCain, and Sen. Mitt Romney penned a letter endorsing Harris and warning that democracy would be at risk under another Trump administration. They urged moderate Republicans and independents in battleground states to stand up once again and support President Biden’s administration.
This wave of Republican support for Harris follows speeches at the Democratic National Convention last month, where several prominent Republicans criticized Trump’s leadership and character. Figures such as Olivia Troye, a former adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, Stephanie Grisham, a former press secretary for Trump, and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois all spoke out against the GOP nominee, highlighting the need for a change in leadership.
As the 2024 election approaches, it is clear that there is a growing movement among Republicans to reject Trump and support candidates who they believe will uphold democratic values and protect the country’s future. Liz Cheney’s decision to endorse Kamala Harris is just one example of this shift within the Republican party, signaling a potential realignment of political allegiances in the coming years.
