On Sunday, Kamala Harris’ campaign launched an eye-catching initiative: “Republicans for Harris,” featuring endorsements from several high-profile conservatives. The move immediately turned heads and sparked intense conversations across the political spectrum.
Among those leading the charge to boost Harris are Stephanie Grisham, former Trump White House press secretary, and Olivia Troye, a former national security adviser to ex-Vice President Mike Pence.
In an uncompromising statement, Grisham urged her former colleagues from the Trump administration to take a stand: “I encourage other Trump administration officials who saw the tyrant we worked for in office to speak out and stand with Kamala Harris this November to keep integrity in the White House and ensure democracy for our country.”
Adding to this chorus of support, a well-known Virginia Republican also joined their ranks.
Denver Riggleman announced on the social platform X, sharing the “Republicans for Harris” press release with his followers.
Riggleman cited the events of Jan. 6, 2021 – when a mob of Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol, delaying the Electoral College ballot count – as a key reason for his endorsement. After receiving Trump’s endorsement in two separate campaigns, Riggleman broke ties with the former president after that day.
“I’ve seen the data from January 6th. Trump and his minions are dangerous. The same folks who pushed for January 6th are now pushing Project 2025,” Riggleman stated. “A second Trump term would endanger U.S. citizens and create global chaos.”
Fox News has more on the latest from the Never Trump coalition:
While the Trump campaign has focused on highlighting Harris’ progressive background during her tenure as the California attorney general, Harris’ campaign is now shifting gears to frame her more moderately while distancing itself from positions she once championed, all while painting former President Trump as “extreme.”
When reached for comment, a Trump campaign spokesperson said Trump “is building the largest, most diverse political movement in history because his winning message of putting America first again resonates with Americans of all backgrounds.”
“Kamala Harris is weak, failed and dangerously liberal, and a vote for her is a vote for higher taxes and inflation, open borders and more war,” the Trump campaign told Fox News Digital.
“Sanity should be the baseline. Criminals should be discounted,” Riggleman countered in his remarks, tagging the Republicans for Harris X account to emphasize his stance.
Other Never Trump Republicans who joined Grisham, Troye and Riggleman include:
1. Christine Todd Whitman, the first female governor of New Jersey, serving from 1994 to 2001. Whitman won the governorship by defeating the incumbent Democrat James Florio in a close race. She was reelected four years later, defeating Democratic challenger Jim McGreevey.
Whitman was appointed by President George W. Bush as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in January 2001. She resigned from the position in June 2003, citing personal reasons and the increasing political pressures associated with environmental regulation.
2. Bill Weld, a moderate Republican, who was elected governor of Massachusetts in 1990, defeating Democrat John Silber. He was reelected by a landslide, showcasing his broad appeal across party lines.
Weld began his legal career working for a law firm and later served as a counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate impeachment process. Appointed U.S. U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts by President Ronald Reagan, Weld gained a reputation for his pursuit of corruption and white-collar crime. Between 1986 and 1988, he served as the head of the Criminal Division of the Justice Department.
3. Adam Kinzinger, one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach President Trump following the January 6th Capitol riot, citing a need to hold leaders accountable for their actions. Kinzinger was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010, representing Illinois’s 11th congressional district. He later represented the 16th district after redistricting.
Kinzinger generally aligned with conservative principles, supporting tax cuts, military strength and limited government regulation. However, he became known for his willingness to break ranks with the Republican Party, particularly on issues related to Donald Trump. He announced he would not seek reelection in 2022, citing increasing polarization within the Republican Party.
4. Jim Greenwood, a moderate Republican, Greenwood was elected to represent Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992. He succeeded Republican Peter H. Kostmayer.
After leaving Congress in 2005, Greenwood became the head of BIO, the world’s largest biotechnology trade association. In this role, he lobbied for policies to promote biotech innovation, research and development.
Former Washington State Republican Party chair and state Senator Chris Vance and retired Congressmen Tom Coleman (R-Mo.) and Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) are also among Harris’ supporters.
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Peter Kostmayer was a Democrat, not a Republican. I knew him well and was a newspaper photographer that covered that region of PA.