Kamala Harris enlists Liz Cheney to attract anti-Trump Republicans
The vice president referred to the former congresswoman who spearheaded the House investigation into the events of January 6, 2021, as a "true patriot."
TroibNews 
The pairing that took place on Thursday would have once seemed unimaginable.
In Ripon, Wisconsin—deemed the sentimental birthplace of the GOP—Kamala Harris took to the campaign trail alongside Liz Cheney in a significant move aimed at winning over non-MAGA Republicans.
Despite their differences on most issues, both the California liberal and the Wyoming conservative share a common belief: former President Donald Trump poses a danger to democracy and should not be allowed to return to the White House following the January 6 Capitol riot. During an event at Ripon College, a site where Whigs, Free Soilers, and Democrats united in 1854 to create a new party that would be called the Republicans, Cheney declared she would cast her first vote for a Democrat in order to prevent Trump’s return.
“Our republic faces a threat unlike any we have faced before,” Cheney stated. “A former president who attempted to stay in power by unraveling the foundations of our republic, by refusing to accept the lawful results confirmed by dozens of courts of the 2020 election.”
At the intimate gathering, Harris characterized the upcoming presidential race as a matter of utmost importance, redirecting voters' focus to the events of the Capitol riot nearly four years prior.
“One of the most fundamental questions that is facing the American people in this election,” Harris remarked, is “who will abide by the oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America?”
Acknowledging their differences, Harris noted that she and Cheney “may not see eye to eye on every issue,” and mentioned the hope of returning to a “healthy two-party system” characterized by vigorous debate. Nevertheless, she praised Cheney, standing beside her during the comments, as a “true patriot.”
Harris has actively sought to engage disenchanted Republicans, showcasing ads that feature endorsements from former Trump supporters, with one individual stating in a promotional spot that “Jan. 6 was a wake-up call for me.” To further this outreach, conservative figures are participating in campaign events for Harris across the country this week.
The vice president's success in the upcoming election may depend on winning over college-educated and suburban voters, including some disaffected Republicans. This demographic could be increasingly crucial, especially given signs of declining support for Harris among working-class voters. Notably, the firefighters union, an early supporter of President Joe Biden in 2020, announced Thursday that it would not endorse any candidate for the White House, while the Teamsters recently indicated they would similarly withhold their support.
The event in Wisconsin highlighted that opposition to Trump significantly energizes the Democratic Party, and it represents a key aspect of what Harris' team aims to leverage to include everyone from Cheney to Bernie Sanders in their coalition. By campaigning alongside Cheney, Harris also implicitly counters Trump's claims that she is too far left.
This marked the first occasion Cheney joined Harris on the campaign trail since endorsing the vice president last month. Having lost her Wyoming House seat in 2022 after voting to impeach Trump over his actions related to the January 6 riot, Cheney has since aligned herself with Harris. Additionally, her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, is also in support of Harris.
At the Wisconsin event, Harris expressed gratitude for “his support and what he has done to serve our country.”
Harris’ initiative to attract Trump-skeptical Republicans is a strategy not unfamiliar to Democrats in the era of Trump. During his 2020 convention, President Joe Biden’s team highlighted a notable endorsement from former Ohio Governor John Kasich. In the 2022 midterms, down-ballot Democrats similarly gained the backing of disenchanted GOP officials, who bolstered arguments against their opponents’ extremism.
This year, anti-Trump Republicans, including former Illinois Representative Adam Kinzinger, Mesa, Arizona Mayor John Giles, and political commentator Ana Navarro, made appearances at the Democratic National Convention. Occasionally, these efforts have drawn frustration from progressive factions.
Trump has consistently targeted Cheney in his rhetoric. On Thursday, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung reiterated this sentiment, stating that “Liz Cheney is a stone-cold loser who is so desperate for relevance and attention, she has debased herself by campaigning with a weak, failed and dangerously liberal in Kamala Harris.”
Earlier that day, in a key battleground, Trump held a rally in Saginaw, Michigan, where he continued to falsely assert that the federal government was not offering support to victims of Hurricane Helene. Surrounded by supporters dressed in bright green “Teamsters for Trump” shirts, Trump took aim at both Harris and Biden in lengthy remarks.
He also briefly referenced the performance of Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, during the recent vice presidential debate. “He called himself ‘knucklehead,’” Trump quipped. “We don't want a knucklehead as a president.”
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
In Ripon, Wisconsin—deemed the sentimental birthplace of the GOP—Kamala Harris took to the campaign trail alongside Liz Cheney in a significant move aimed at winning over non-MAGA Republicans.
Despite their differences on most issues, both the California liberal and the Wyoming conservative share a common belief: former President Donald Trump poses a danger to democracy and should not be allowed to return to the White House following the January 6 Capitol riot. During an event at Ripon College, a site where Whigs, Free Soilers, and Democrats united in 1854 to create a new party that would be called the Republicans, Cheney declared she would cast her first vote for a Democrat in order to prevent Trump’s return.
“Our republic faces a threat unlike any we have faced before,” Cheney stated. “A former president who attempted to stay in power by unraveling the foundations of our republic, by refusing to accept the lawful results confirmed by dozens of courts of the 2020 election.”
At the intimate gathering, Harris characterized the upcoming presidential race as a matter of utmost importance, redirecting voters' focus to the events of the Capitol riot nearly four years prior.
“One of the most fundamental questions that is facing the American people in this election,” Harris remarked, is “who will abide by the oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America?”
Acknowledging their differences, Harris noted that she and Cheney “may not see eye to eye on every issue,” and mentioned the hope of returning to a “healthy two-party system” characterized by vigorous debate. Nevertheless, she praised Cheney, standing beside her during the comments, as a “true patriot.”
Harris has actively sought to engage disenchanted Republicans, showcasing ads that feature endorsements from former Trump supporters, with one individual stating in a promotional spot that “Jan. 6 was a wake-up call for me.” To further this outreach, conservative figures are participating in campaign events for Harris across the country this week.
The vice president's success in the upcoming election may depend on winning over college-educated and suburban voters, including some disaffected Republicans. This demographic could be increasingly crucial, especially given signs of declining support for Harris among working-class voters. Notably, the firefighters union, an early supporter of President Joe Biden in 2020, announced Thursday that it would not endorse any candidate for the White House, while the Teamsters recently indicated they would similarly withhold their support.
The event in Wisconsin highlighted that opposition to Trump significantly energizes the Democratic Party, and it represents a key aspect of what Harris' team aims to leverage to include everyone from Cheney to Bernie Sanders in their coalition. By campaigning alongside Cheney, Harris also implicitly counters Trump's claims that she is too far left.
This marked the first occasion Cheney joined Harris on the campaign trail since endorsing the vice president last month. Having lost her Wyoming House seat in 2022 after voting to impeach Trump over his actions related to the January 6 riot, Cheney has since aligned herself with Harris. Additionally, her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, is also in support of Harris.
At the Wisconsin event, Harris expressed gratitude for “his support and what he has done to serve our country.”
Harris’ initiative to attract Trump-skeptical Republicans is a strategy not unfamiliar to Democrats in the era of Trump. During his 2020 convention, President Joe Biden’s team highlighted a notable endorsement from former Ohio Governor John Kasich. In the 2022 midterms, down-ballot Democrats similarly gained the backing of disenchanted GOP officials, who bolstered arguments against their opponents’ extremism.
This year, anti-Trump Republicans, including former Illinois Representative Adam Kinzinger, Mesa, Arizona Mayor John Giles, and political commentator Ana Navarro, made appearances at the Democratic National Convention. Occasionally, these efforts have drawn frustration from progressive factions.
Trump has consistently targeted Cheney in his rhetoric. On Thursday, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung reiterated this sentiment, stating that “Liz Cheney is a stone-cold loser who is so desperate for relevance and attention, she has debased herself by campaigning with a weak, failed and dangerously liberal in Kamala Harris.”
Earlier that day, in a key battleground, Trump held a rally in Saginaw, Michigan, where he continued to falsely assert that the federal government was not offering support to victims of Hurricane Helene. Surrounded by supporters dressed in bright green “Teamsters for Trump” shirts, Trump took aim at both Harris and Biden in lengthy remarks.
He also briefly referenced the performance of Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, during the recent vice presidential debate. “He called himself ‘knucklehead,’” Trump quipped. “We don't want a knucklehead as a president.”
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
