A former Republican Senator is endorsing Kamala Harris for president.
Over the weekend, Jeff Flake (Ariz.) who served as ambassador to Turkey, officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
Flake said in a statement posted to X, on Sunday he is supporting the Harris-Walz ticket because he believes in the rule of law and wants to support a candidate “who respects the will of the voters and would never attempt to use the powers of the Presidency to overturn an election” and “seeks to unite our country” rather than divide it.
I’ll be supporting @KamalaHarris for President and @Tim_Walz for Vice President. My full statement below. pic.twitter.com/6b28mkBPMD
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) September 29, 2024
Flake, who described himself as a “conservative Republican,” added, “I would encourage all Republicans who feel this way to do the same. After all, in times like these there is nothing more conservative than putting country over party.”
I’ll be supporting Kamala Harris for President and Tim Walz for Vice President.
I’ve served with Kamala in the U.S Senate. I’ve also served with Tim in the House of Representatives.
I know them. I know first of hand of their fine character and love of country.
I would… pic.twitter.com/xn0OM4rcqk
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) September 29, 2024
Flake, a vocal Trump critic during his time as a senator during the Trump administration, said that he wanted a candidate who uses “the political process created by our founders to debate and to persuade, not disparage or demonize” and “understands that political opponents are our fellow citizens, not the enemy.”
“I want to support a presidential candidate who seeks to unite our country, rather than one who divides us,” Flake said in the video. “One who represents the ideals of new generation of leadership, not based on grievances of the past but hope for the future.”
In the video, and later in an interview with Martha Raddatz on ABC’s This Week on Sunday morning, Flake pointed to Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election results as a reason he cannot support him—and that he wants a candidate who “respects the will of the voters.”
“I think Republicans believe in the rule of law in particular, and it’s difficult to support a candidate who, having lost an election, tries to use the powers of the presidency to overturn that election,” Flake said in an interview with ABC. “That is anything but respect for the rule of law. So I know that a lot of conservative Republicans feel the way I do, that you just can’t support a candidate like that.”
Flake served in the House from 2001 to 2013 and the Senate from 2013 to 2019.
Flake served as an ambassador to Turkey, stepping down earlier this month.
He noted on ABC that as an ambassador, he could not make the endorsement until he resigned.
“Having spent the past three years overseas as a United States ambassador, I’ve seen up close that we have very real enemies abroad,” Flake said in the video. “We also have vital and indispensable allies. I want to support a presidential candidate who understands and appreciates the difference.”
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