Vice President Kamala Harris has received an unexpected endorsement from a key Republican figure in the critical swing state of Michigan. Gary Reed, who served as the executive director of the Michigan Republican Party from 1992 to 1995, expressed his support for Harris in a letter published by the *Lansing City Pulse* on Tuesday. Reed announced his decision to vote for Harris because he believes former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, no longer "represent the values of the Republican Party I once knew."
Reed revealed that during the GOP primary, he was among the 296,200 Michigan Republicans who cast their votes for former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, fully aware that Trump was likely to secure the nomination. He speculated that many other Haley supporters would similarly choose to withhold their backing from Trump in the general election.
"Trump and his allies have inflicted serious damage on the Republican Party—both in Michigan and nationwide," Reed wrote. "Restoring our party starts with ensuring that Trump is defeated on Nov. 5. That's why I’m voting for Kamala Harris."
Reed criticized Trump for abandoning core Republican principles such as fiscal discipline and a robust foreign policy in favor of "protectionism and blanket tariffs that raise prices for working families." He commended Harris for advocating targeted and strategic tariffs while highlighting Trump’s addition of $8 trillion to the national debt during his first term. Although Reed acknowledged that he does not fully align with all of Harris' economic policies, he expressed confidence in her being more fiscally disciplined than Trump.
He also condemned Trump and Vance for promoting "xenophobia and scapegoating immigrants," while failing to provide practical solutions to pressing issues like rising housing costs. Reed pointed out that, in contrast, Harris is at least offering policy proposals to address these challenges.
Reed took further aim at Trump and Vance for their admiration of authoritarian leaders and their inclination to "abandon Ukraine and our NATO allies" rather than upholding a strong, Reagan-inspired foreign policy. He also accused Trump of failing to deliver on his promises of revitalizing auto manufacturing during his time in office.
As the election nears, Michigan remains a critical battleground. According to an average of recent polls compiled by *FiveThirtyEight*, Harris leads Trump in the state by a slim margin of just 0.8 percent.
Reed is not alone in his endorsement of Harris. Prominent Republicans, including former Trump administration officials Stephanie Grisham, Anthony Scaramucci, and Olivia Troye, along with former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan and numerous ex-GOP members of Congress, have thrown their support behind the Democratic vice president. Last week, former Michigan Congressman Fred Upton also endorsed Harris, labeling Trump as "completely unhinged" and describing Harris as a path forward.
In addition, hundreds of former staff members who served under Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, as well as late Senators John McCain and Mitt Romney, have united in their backing of the Democratic nominee, reinforcing a broader trend of Republican dissent against Trump’s candidacy.
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