Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., made a significant political move on Wednesday by endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president. This endorsement is another high-profile Republican backing a Democratic candidate and signals growing intra-party divisions over former President Donald Trump’s influence. Cheney’s comments were made during an appearance at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, where she highlighted the potential danger Trump poses to the country.
“Because of the danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris,” Cheney said in remarks posted on X (formerly Twitter). Cheney emphasized the urgency of the 2024 election, particularly for voters in swing states, stating that people “do not have the luxury of writing in candidates’ names.”
Cheney’s endorsement was welcomed by the Harris campaign, with campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon issuing a statement: “She is a patriot who loves this country and puts our democracy and our Constitution first. Vice President Harris will be a president for all Americans, regardless of political party. For any American who is looking to reject the chaos and division of Donald Trump, turn the page, and pursue a new way forward that protects our freedoms and defends the American values we all believe in, there is a place for you in the Harris-Walz coalition.”
Cheney’s decision to back Harris continues her outspoken opposition to Trump, which previously cost her a leadership position in the Republican caucus. Cheney has repeatedly warned about the dangers of a second Trump term, claiming that he would likely try to remain in power beyond his term limits. During an interview on NBC’s “TODAY” show, Cheney said she would “never vote for Donald Trump” and would “do whatever it takes to make sure that Donald Trump is defeated in 2024.”
The endorsement has drawn predictable fire from within the GOP, particularly from Trump allies. Ohio Senator JD Vance, Trump’s vice-presidential running mate, criticized Cheney’s support for Harris. Speaking at a Turning Point Action event, Vance stated, “A very good thing that I could say about the next presidency of Donald J. Trump is that he’s going to make sure people like Liz Cheney are laughed out of the Oval Office instead of rewarded.”
Cheney joins a growing group of Republicans, including former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who have publicly endorsed Democrats over Trump. Like Cheney, Kinzinger served on the January 6 commission investigating the Capitol riots and has been vocal about his disillusionment with Trump and the current direction of the Republican Party. Kinzinger endorsed President Joe Biden before he dropped out of the race, criticizing Trump’s leadership by stating that he had “suffocated the soul” of the GOP.
Cheney’s endorsement of Harris is not just a continuation of her fight against Trump but also part of a broader trend of moderate Republicans aligning with Democrats to oppose Trump’s influence. In 2022, Cheney lost her Wyoming congressional seat to a Trump-backed challenger, further highlighting the deep divisions within the Republican Party.
As the 2024 election approaches, Cheney’s support of Harris underscores the stakes of the election, with many Republicans seeing the race as a pivotal moment for the future of both parties and the country.