Many anti-Trump Republicans are supporting Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections, instead of backing Trump-endorsed candidates.
Some political insiders believe Republicans breaking with their own party in the midterm elections endorsements signifies the existing division within the GOP.
Republicans Step Up to Support Democrats in Midterm
In Arizona, conservative state Rep. Joel John distanced himself from the Trump-endorsed Republican candidate, Rep. Mark Finchem, in his race for secretary of state. Now, John is supporting Finchem’s main competitor, Adrian Fontes, from the Democrat Party.
Fontes is probably the most dangerous democrat operative in the entire state. Michael Carbone should be declared a state hero by the @AZGOP for ousting Joel John from power! pic.twitter.com/WlD93crxvd
— Jacqueline Parker (@electjacqparker) September 30, 2022
John stated America has a long history of having people who prefer to support the right ideology, even if it is against their own party.
According to Johns, he would support Fontes to join many other Republicans who have broken their partisan lines for the sake of their country.
Likewise, John asserted the Trump-supported candidate running against Fontes opposed mail-in voting and tried to reverse the 2020 election results.
The election for Arizona Secretary of State became important after incumbent officeholder Katie Hobbs announced she would leave her job to run for the governor’s seat in this year’s midterm elections.
Hobbs gained nationwide popularity after she successfully defended her state against Trump’s election fraud lawsuits in Arizona.
Arizona became the epicenter of Trump’s voter fraud rhetoric, after which the state spent months auditing the 2020 elections outcome in Maricopa County.
Similarly, multiple former Republican governors of Kansas are supporting incumbent Democratic governor of the state, Laura Kelly, in her reelection against Trump-endorsed candidate Derek Schmidt.
Schmidt is currently serving as an attorney general of Kansas and has supported Trump on various issues, notably border security and crime.
Included in the former governors who are supporting Democrats are Mike Hayden and Bill Graves. Hayden served as Kansas governor from 1987 to 1991, while Graves served two consecutive terms from 1995 to 2003.
While speaking about effective leadership of Kelly, Hayden asserted he saw different types of circumstances in Kansas, but Kelly tackles everything with her bipartisan style of governance.
Democrats Get Decisive Edge After Winning Republicans’ Support
In addition to that, three Republican lawmakers from the Oklahoma state legislature are backing Democratic Senate nominee Kendra Horn, compared to pro-Trump candidate Markwayne Mullin.
Kris Steele, the former Republican speaker for the Oklahoma state house, noted Horn is the only leader who can guide the state of Oklahoma in a positive and productive way.
BREAKING: Former Republican Oklahoma House Speaker Kris Steele endorses Democrat Kendra Horn for US Senate against Trump-backed candidate: "She's the kind of leader that we need to move our state forward in a positive, productive, and healthy direction."
Country over party.
— Republicans against Trumpism (@RpsAgainstTrump) September 29, 2022
Many conservative administrative officials of Oklahoma are also endorsing Horn for her election.
Similarly, many Republican politicians backed Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro in his election against Pennsylvania state Senator Doug Mastriano for the governorship of the state.
Reportedly, more than 16 Republican leaders have already put their weight behind Shapiro, giving him a clear edge in the upcoming election.
Former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, who served in the George W. Bush administration, claimed Shapiro has all the skills to lead Pennsylvania with integrity.
This article appeared in The State Today and has been published here with permission.
