When the “Republicans for Harris” rollout began in earnest a month ago, the effort featured some fairly prominent names, including former GOP governors, members of Congress, and even Republicans who served on Donald Trump’s White House team. In the days and weeks that followed, the list of Republicans backing Vice President Kamala Harris continued to grow.
There was, however, one name in particular that many political observers in both parties were keeping an eye on: What would former Rep. Liz Cheney do?
That question now has an answer. NBC News reported:
Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., on Wednesday endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, the latest high-profile Republican endorsement for Democrats. Cheney’s comments took place during an appearance at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy.
“It is crucially important for people to recognize — not only is what I’ve just said about the danger Trump poses something that should prevent people from voting for him, but I don’t believe we have the luxury of writing in candidates’ names, particularly in swing states,” the Wyoming Republican said.
“As a conservative, as someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution, I have thought deeply about this. And 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.”
.@Liz_Cheney: As a conservative, as someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution, and because of the danger Donald Trump poses, I will be voting for Kamala Harris pic.twitter.com/7105j8xjYp
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) September 5, 2024
Not surprisingly, the Harris campaign was delighted.
“The Vice President is proud to have earned Congresswoman Cheney’s vote,” campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said in a written 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, and we will continue working to earn your support.”
For those who’ve followed Cheney’s career, this announcement was hardly inevitable. In fact, a decade ago, it would’ve been inconceivable.
I’m mindful of the fact that the former congresswoman is persona non grata in contemporary GOP circles, but in case anyone’s forgotten, Cheney was, and is, very conservative. We’re talking about a lifelong Republican from a prominent Republican family, who was an unapologetic far-right lawmaker who served as the House Republican conference chair — a leadership post she won while running unopposed.
During Trump’s presidency, she voted with the GOP White House roughly 94% of the time — a higher score than some members of the House Freedom Caucus.








