Walz reached out to Upton, who asserts his endorsement for Harris was an independent decision.
Former Rep. Fred Upton remains committed to his party, stating his intention to support Rep. Mike Rogers in the race for Michigan's open Senate seat.
TroibNews 
Retired GOP Rep. Fred Upton received a phone call from Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz on Wednesday, but he maintains that his decision to endorse Kamala Harris for president less than 24 hours later was entirely his own.
“I just think people have had enough, particularly moderate Republicans,” Upton stated in an interview with PMG Thursday, referring to former President Donald Trump. “I don't have any hesitation. It was the right thing to do and if it makes a difference — it's certainly worth it. And people know that there's cover. It's not just one [former House Republican], it's 30 some.”
While such endorsements from lawmakers, including former ones, are noteworthy, Upton's support can be seen as a natural progression in his political journey. A respected figure in Republican circles during his 36 years in Washington before his retirement in 2022, he was known for his collaborative approach and strong bipartisan relationships. He was also one of the ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump due to his involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack.
Even though Upton doesn't have the same national prominence as other GOP figures who have endorsed Harris, like former Rep. Liz Cheney, he holds significant sway in Michigan politics, appealing particularly to centrist Republicans and independents—key demographics that Harris will need to secure Michigan's 15 Electoral College votes.
Despite his endorsement of Harris, Upton hasn't completely distanced himself from the Republican Party. He is supporting former Rep. Mike Rogers for Michigan's open Senate seat, citing their lengthy collaboration, rather than backing his “good friend” Rep. Elissa Slotkin.
Upton emphasized that his endorsement of Harris transcends Trump. His interactions with her have been limited, having met her only a few times during her vice presidency. Nevertheless, he advised the Democratic nominee to emphasize bipartisan efforts in her campaign.
“She needs to pitch the bipartisanship, which she's doing — that was the deciding factor for me,” Upton noted. “She's got the left. It's the bell curve. It's the middle: You got to do things that appeal to them.”
He is not seeking a position in a potential Harris administration, although he appreciated her commitment to appointing a Republican to one of her Cabinet posts.
“I'm not dusting off my resume,” he said, adding that he's “happy being a grandpa.”
Upton believes that endorsements from cross-party former lawmakers, such as himself, Rep. Dave Trott, Rep. Joe Schwarz, and Susan Ford Bales (daughter of President Gerald Ford), could influence the presidential election in favor of Democrats in crucial areas of Michigan.
“It's Grand Rapids. Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and Oakland County. Those are the areas where people study the candidates. They're not wedded to being a Republican or a Democrat,” Upton explained. “They split their ticket and they vote. And all those areas, from Susan Ford to Fred Upton to Joe Schwarz to Dave Trott, they now have a reason to vote for Harris.”
Despite recent tensions with his party, Upton still considers himself a Republican and hopes that a defeat for Trump this year will steer the party back to its foundational values.
“There are a lot of folks that want our party back,” he remarked. “To win elections, you have to go more than just beyond your base. You have to reach out. Here we are, less than two weeks before the election, and [Trump’s] still doing the same crap that he did those last number of years. It's absolute chaos.”
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
“I just think people have had enough, particularly moderate Republicans,” Upton stated in an interview with PMG Thursday, referring to former President Donald Trump. “I don't have any hesitation. It was the right thing to do and if it makes a difference — it's certainly worth it. And people know that there's cover. It's not just one [former House Republican], it's 30 some.”
While such endorsements from lawmakers, including former ones, are noteworthy, Upton's support can be seen as a natural progression in his political journey. A respected figure in Republican circles during his 36 years in Washington before his retirement in 2022, he was known for his collaborative approach and strong bipartisan relationships. He was also one of the ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump due to his involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack.
Even though Upton doesn't have the same national prominence as other GOP figures who have endorsed Harris, like former Rep. Liz Cheney, he holds significant sway in Michigan politics, appealing particularly to centrist Republicans and independents—key demographics that Harris will need to secure Michigan's 15 Electoral College votes.
Despite his endorsement of Harris, Upton hasn't completely distanced himself from the Republican Party. He is supporting former Rep. Mike Rogers for Michigan's open Senate seat, citing their lengthy collaboration, rather than backing his “good friend” Rep. Elissa Slotkin.
Upton emphasized that his endorsement of Harris transcends Trump. His interactions with her have been limited, having met her only a few times during her vice presidency. Nevertheless, he advised the Democratic nominee to emphasize bipartisan efforts in her campaign.
“She needs to pitch the bipartisanship, which she's doing — that was the deciding factor for me,” Upton noted. “She's got the left. It's the bell curve. It's the middle: You got to do things that appeal to them.”
He is not seeking a position in a potential Harris administration, although he appreciated her commitment to appointing a Republican to one of her Cabinet posts.
“I'm not dusting off my resume,” he said, adding that he's “happy being a grandpa.”
Upton believes that endorsements from cross-party former lawmakers, such as himself, Rep. Dave Trott, Rep. Joe Schwarz, and Susan Ford Bales (daughter of President Gerald Ford), could influence the presidential election in favor of Democrats in crucial areas of Michigan.
“It's Grand Rapids. Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and Oakland County. Those are the areas where people study the candidates. They're not wedded to being a Republican or a Democrat,” Upton explained. “They split their ticket and they vote. And all those areas, from Susan Ford to Fred Upton to Joe Schwarz to Dave Trott, they now have a reason to vote for Harris.”
Despite recent tensions with his party, Upton still considers himself a Republican and hopes that a defeat for Trump this year will steer the party back to its foundational values.
“There are a lot of folks that want our party back,” he remarked. “To win elections, you have to go more than just beyond your base. You have to reach out. Here we are, less than two weeks before the election, and [Trump’s] still doing the same crap that he did those last number of years. It's absolute chaos.”
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
