Over the past year, as former congresswoman Liz Cheney publicly criticized the idea of Donald Trump returning to the White House, Jen O’Malley Dillon, then-chair of the Biden campaign, discreetly reached out to her. Through a series of phone calls, Dillon expressed the Biden team’s appreciation for Cheney’s stance and explored whether she would consider endorsing the Democratic candidate. Once Vice President Kamala Harris took the top spot on the ticket, campaign leadership saw an opportunity for Cheney’s endorsement, and Harris herself reached out.
This outreach effort culminated earlier this month when Cheney endorsed Harris during a speech at Duke University. Despite her conservative beliefs, Cheney said she supported Harris due to the dangers posed by Donald Trump. After the announcement, O'Malley Dillon released a statement on behalf of the campaign, thanking Cheney. Shortly after, Cheney revealed that her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, would also be voting for Harris.
Since Trump’s initial rise in 2016, many lifelong Republicans have distanced themselves from the former president, with some even voting for Democrats. As Trump mounts his third presidential campaign, the Harris team has increased its outreach to disaffected Republicans, hoping their support will attract conservative and independent voters who oppose Trump but hesitate to vote for a Democrat.
Polls show a tight race between Harris and Trump, and the Harris campaign believes Republican endorsements could sway key voters. High-profile Republicans criticizing Trump could make it easier for regular voters to cross party lines. However, Trump’s dominance in the GOP remains strong, and his campaign has dismissed the impact of such endorsements, with spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt calling these Republicans “disgruntled and deranged.”
Despite this, Harris’s team believes appealing to Republicans could be decisive in a close race. O'Malley Dillon has worked to strengthen relationships with Republicans like former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a vocal Trump critic who has endorsed Harris. The campaign has also brought on Austin Weatherford, Kinzinger’s former chief of staff, to lead Republican outreach efforts.
The Harris campaign's strategy includes putting Republican endorsements at the forefront, helping conservative-leaning voters feel more comfortable voting for a Democrat. Key figures like Maria Comella, a former aide to Chris Christie, have also joined the effort to appeal to moderate Republicans and independents. Additionally, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and over 100 Republican national security officials have publicly backed Harris, further highlighting Trump’s unfitness for office.
Outreach has even extended to other prominent Republicans like Mitt Romney and Chris Christie, although both are reluctant to publicly endorse Harris. Romney is especially cautious, fearing backlash and threats to his family’s safety if Trump wins again.
Beyond the Harris campaign, anti-Trump Republicans such as Sarah Longwell and Bill Kristol have worked independently to persuade Republicans to endorse Harris. Tim Miller, a former GOP strategist, has also urged Democrats to intensify their efforts to secure Republican endorsements. He believes high-profile Trump administration officials like John Kelly and Jim Mattis would have the most influence in dissuading voters from supporting Trump.
In some cases, endorsements have emerged organically. For example, Jimmy McCain, son of the late Senator John McCain, expressed his support for Harris after a disturbing encounter involving Trump campaign workers at Arlington National Cemetery.
Cheney’s endorsement, in particular, reflects her firm belief that defeating Trump is essential. She has argued that simply voting for a more palatable Republican is insufficient in such a critical race, and casting a vote for Harris is the necessary step to prevent Trump from returning to power.
At the recent Democratic National Convention, the Harris campaign prominently featured Republicans like Adam Kinzinger, Stephanie Grisham, and Olivia Troye. Troye emphasized the importance of these endorsements, noting that they provide a sense of solidarity for Republicans uncomfortable with Trump’s influence.
She believes this growing chorus of Republican voices against Trump is helping shift attitudes at the grassroots level, encouraging others to stand up to the bullying tactics of the MAGA movement.
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