Republican Leaders Endorse Kamala Harris

Over 230 Republicans Support Kamala Harris

More than 230 Republicans who worked for former Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, the late Sen. John McCain, and Sen. Mitt Romney have signed a letter endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president.

Exclusive Letter Obtained by USA TODAY

USA TODAY got a copy of this open letter. You can find the letter and its signatories here.

Why These Republicans Are Supporting Harris

These former aides believe a second Trump presidency is “simply untenable.” They are pledging their support for Kamala Harris to ensure a better future for America.

Details from the Democratic National Convention

The letter comes after the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where Republican detractors of Trump were showcased. At least five former aides to George H.W. Bush also signed the letter, which has 238 signatures in total.

Previous Support for Joe Biden

A similar group of about 150 anti-Trump former staffers supported President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. This shows a continued trend of Republicans standing against Trump.

Republican Lawyers Also Endorse Harris

Recently, a dozen Republican lawyers who served under Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush endorsed Kamala Harris. They believe Trump threatens American democracy and is “unfit, dangerous, and detached from reality.”

The New Letter’s Message

The new letter states:

“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.”

They acknowledge their disagreements with Harris and Walz but believe the alternative is far worse. They argue that another four years of Trump’s chaotic leadership will harm everyday people and weaken important institutions.

Impact on International Relations

The letter warns that democratic movements abroad will be jeopardized if Trump continues to support dictators like Vladimir Putin while ignoring our allies.

Moderate Republicans and Independents Made a Difference

The letter notes that moderate Republicans and conservative independents in key swing states helped Joe Biden win the presidency because they prioritized the country over party.

A Call to Action

The letter concludes with a heartfelt call to friends, colleagues, neighbors, and family members to vote for leaders who strive for consensus and unity. Those leaders are Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz.

Signatories of the Letter

USA TODAY provided names of some signatories, including:

Mark Salter and Chris Koch, former chiefs of staff for McCain
Joe Donoghue, former legislative director for McCain
Jennifer Lux, press secretary for McCain’s 2008 campaign
Jean Becker, longtime chief of staff for George H.W. Bush
David Nierenberg, Romney’s 2012 campaign finance chair
David Garman, under secretary of Energy for George W. Bush
Olivia Troye, former advisor to George W. Bush and Vice President Mike Pence

Olivia Troye also spoke at the DNC convention last week.

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FAQ’s

Who signed the letter endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president?

More than 230 Republicans who previously worked for former Presidents George H.W. Bush or George W. Bush, the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona, and Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah have signed the letter.

Where can I find a copy of the letter with its signatories?

USA TODAY exclusively obtained a copy of the open letter. You can find a link to the letter with its signatories in their article.

Why did these former aides endorse Kamala Harris?

The former aides believe that a second Trump presidency is “simply untenable” and that his leadership would hurt everyday people and weaken American institutions. They also expressed concerns about Trump’s foreign policy and its impact on democratic movements abroad.

How many signatures does the letter have?

The letter has 238 signatures in total.

Did a similar group endorse Joe Biden in the 2020 election?

Yes, a similar group of about 150 anti-Trump former staffers of Bush, McCain, and Romney pledged support for President Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

What did the Republican lawyers say in their endorsement of Kamala Harris?

A dozen Republican lawyers who served in the administrations of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush endorsed Harris, stating that Trump would threaten American democracy and “remains unfit, dangerous and detached from reality.”

What are the main concerns mentioned in the new letter?

The main concerns include Trump’s chaotic leadership, the dangerous goals of Project 2025, and the potential harm to democratic movements abroad due to Trump’s foreign policy.

What did the letter say about moderate Republicans and conservative independents in the 2020 election?

The letter notes that exit polling and voter data show that moderate Republicans and conservative independents in key swing states ultimately delivered the presidency to Joe Biden because they put country far before party.

Who are some of the notable signatories of the letter?

Notable signatories include former McCain chiefs of staff Mark Salter and Chris Koch; Joe Donoghue, former legislative director for McCain; Jennifer Lux, press secretary for McCain’s 2008 campaign; Jean Becker, longtime chief of staff for George H.W. Bush; David Nierenberg, Romney’s 2012 campaign finance chair; David Garman, under secretary of Energy for George W. Bush; and Olivia Troye, a former advisor to both George W. Bush and Vice President Mike Pence.