At a campaign event in Wisconsin, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris joined forces with former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney. Together, they called for voters to reject Donald Trump’s leadership. This rare political partnership highlighted their shared concern over Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results and his actions during the January 6 insurrection. Cheney affirmed her support for Harris, marking her first-ever vote for a Democrat. The full story is available from The Guardian.
Newstro Quick Facts
- At the event in Wisconsin, Liz Cheney, a long-time Republican, announced her vote for Kamala Harris, citing her belief in protecting the U.S. Constitution and opposing Trump’s actions on January 6, 2021.
- Both Cheney and Harris focused their speeches on Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results and his threat to democratic institutions, rather than traditional political platforms.
- The event, held in the birthplace of the Republican Party, marked a symbolic moment in the 2024 campaign as Harris and Cheney formed a bipartisan front to oppose Trump’s potential return to power.
During the campaign event in Ripon, Wisconsin, Harris and Cheney appeared together in a surprising political alliance. While their political ideologies may differ significantly, their speeches both zeroed in on one common target: Donald Trump. Cheney, once a staunch conservative voice, emphasized the need to protect democracy and the rule of law. She reiterated her condemnation of Trump’s actions during the January 6 insurrection and criticized his refusal to accept the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Harris echoed these concerns, positioning her campaign as a defense of democratic values against the authoritarian tendencies she claims Trump represents.
Cheney’s endorsement of Harris, a Democrat, was particularly significant given her long history within the Republican Party. Her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, has also pledged his support for Harris. This move underscores Cheney’s belief that Trump’s leadership poses a profound threat to the future of the United States. Cheney told the crowd that “the most conservative of conservative values is fidelity to our constitution” and stressed that her vote for Harris was motivated by a desire to prevent Trump from ever regaining power.
Harris, in turn, praised Cheney’s courage in breaking from her party, recognizing the sacrifices involved in crossing partisan lines. The two appeared on stage with large protective barriers, a symbolic gesture that seemed to reflect the broader divide in American politics today. Harris urged voters, particularly those who may not traditionally align with her platform, to join her in rejecting Trump. She pointed to the importance of upholding the democratic process and respecting the will of the people, contrasting her own commitment to democracy with Trump’s continued false claims about the 2020 election.