LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – With less than a week until Election Day, Republicans are speaking up about why they’ll be voting for Kamala Harris in this presidential election.
This presidential election has spurred an unlikely group of voters to speak up on behalf of the Harris Walz campaign. On Tuesday, two former staffers with the Michigan Republican Party announced their endorsement of Kamala Harris.
Former aid Bill Rustem, and former Executive Director of Michigan’s Republican party Gary Reed, said that though they don’t agree with all of Harris’ policies, they believe Trump’s character makes him unfit for the presidency.
“Instead of coming up with sensible conservative solutions to the challenges we face as a nation, Trump lies, spreads conspiracy theories, and peddles his own personal grievances,” Reed said. “It’s going to take somebody that will go out and actually be a decent human for me to get back on board because right now, JD Vance and Donald Trump are an embarrassment to the Republican Party. It’s the MAGA party. It’s not the Republican Party.”
Reed said he’s spent his life trying to get Republicans elected in Michigan, but that Trump no longer represents the Republican ideals that he stands for.
“He has trampled on the legacy of the Republican Party,” Rustem said. “Just look at his first term. He trampled on Lincoln’s commitment to human rights. He has trampled on Teddy Roosevelt’s commitment to conservation, the environment, and public lands. He’s trampled on Eisenhower’s commitment to a responsible budget. He’s trampled on Michigan’s own Gerald Ford’s legacy: That you need to sacrifice things for your country. Donald Trump’s all about himself. Not the rest of us.”
Reed said he hopes to vote for a Republican presidential candidate again in the future, but a leader who will unite the country is more important. Citing concerns that Trump’s agenda would sell out manufacturing jobs and gut Michigan’s economy while taking away healthcare from millions of Americans and increasing the national debt.
Reed said that if Republicans want their party back, they must reject Trump once and for all, come together, and elect Kamala Harris as the next President.
The current communications director with the Michigan GOP and Team Trump sent WZMQ this statement about ‘Republicans for Harris’:
“Michigan families are worried about paying their bills, putting food on the table, and saving for their kids’ college tuition. Any ‘Republican’ campaigning for another four years of unfettered illegal immigration and rising prices under Kamala Harris is neither Republican nor worth listening to.”
– Michigan Communications Director Victoria LaCivita
Both sides are continuing to campaign and reach the last of undecided voters. Governor Tim Walz is set to visit Detroit on Friday at the same time as Former President Trump, and JD Vance also has another Michigan visit scheduled before Election Day.
Nearly 2 million michigan voters have already cast their ballots, putting the election in full swing with just 6 voting days left.
