Donald Trump’s rhetoric is only getting more outrageous. Many Republican leaders, like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell, have condemned Trump’s rhetoric but declared they are still voting for him. This article is not about them.
This article is about Republicans for Hillary — the brave GOP leaders who have declared their support for Mrs. Clinton. Here’s a complete list of the top Republicans who are proudly voting for the Democratic candidate.
1. Major GOP Donor Meg Whitman
Whitman is perhaps the highest profile Republican to declare her support for Hillary. She is a Hewlett-Packard executive with close ties to American business elites. She was also a leading fundraiser for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. Whitman called Trump a “dishonest demagogue” and declared she would not only vote for Hillary, but also help raise money for her campaign.
2. Representative Richard Hanna
Hanna is a member of Congress from New York who is retiring this year. He called Trump “a national embarrassment.” Thus far, he is the only current member of Congress to publicly declare his support for Hillary.
3. Former Senator Larry Pressler
Pressler represented South Dakota in the Senate as a moderate Republican from 1979 to 1997. He endorsed Hillary for president after the Orlando shooting, saying:
“We need to go the route of more gun control…”
4. Former Congressman Chris Shays
Shays represented Connecticut’s fourth district from 1987 to 2009. He supported John Kasich in the primary but has now endorsed Hillary. He admitted he was hurting his Republican friends currently running for office, but said:
“There’s a time when you put your country first.”
5. Former Congresswoman Connie Morella
Morella represented Maryland’s 8th Congressional District from 1987 to 2003. Morella said in a statement:
“Hillary Clinton has the knowledge, the experience, and the commitment to lead our country as president and commander in chief… Unlike her opponent, she will not divide, bully, or dismiss us.”
6. Former Governor William Milliken
Milliken served as governor of Michigan from 1969 to 1983. In his endorsement of Hillary, Milliken said:
“This nation has long prided itself on its abiding commitments to tolerance, civility and equality… I am saddened and dismayed that the Republican Party this year has nominated a candidate who has repeatedly demonstrated that he does not embrace those ideals.”
7. Former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson
Paulson served as Treasury secretary under President George W. Bush. In a Washington Post op-ed, he said that endorsing Trump is endorsing:
“…a brand of populism rooted in ignorance, prejudice, fear and isolationism.”
8. Former Treasurer Rosario Marin
Rosario Marin served as Treasurer under George W. Bush and was the first Mexican-born person to hold the position. Marin wrote in an op-ed:
“I will stand up for my community against the menace of a tyrannical presidency that does not value the countless contributions of immigrants.”
9. Former Judge Robert Smith
Smith was appointed by a Republican governor to New York state’s highest court, where he served for 10 years. In his endorsement of Hillary, Smith called Trump:
“…a crass, bullying, ignorant, impulsive demagogue who stokes people’s hates and fears.”
10. Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage
Armitage was deputy secretary of state under George W. Bush and assistant secretary of defense under Ronald Reagan. In an interview, Armitage said of Trump:
“He doesn’t appear to be a Republican, he doesn’t appear to want to learn about issues. So, I’m going to vote for Mrs. Clinton.”
11. Foreign Policy Adviser Brent Scowcroft
Scowcroft served as an advisor for Presidents Ford, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. Scowcroft released a statement saying:
“The presidency requires the judgment and knowledge to make tough calls under pressure. … [Clinton] has the wisdom and experience to lead our country at this critical time.”
12. Former Ambassador Frank Lavin
Lavin was a political director for Ronald Reagan and served as ambassador to Singapore. Lavin wrote in an op-ed:
“The depressing truth of the Republican nominee is that Donald Trump talks a great game but he is the emperor who wears no clothes.”
And let’s not forget all these other Republicans for Hillary from the Bush administration: Carlos Gutierrez, John Negroponte, William Reilly, Alan Steinberg, Robert Blackwill, Scott Evertz, Lezlee Westine, Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Ashley J. Tellis, David A. Gross, James Kunder, Matthew Waxman, and Kori Schake.
There are also Republicans for Hillary from previous administrations: Doug Elmets, Jim Cicconi, Fred Goldberg Jr., Charles Fried, Pete Teeley, Richard Howell, William Ruckelshaus, Carla Hills, and Robert Kagan. All of them have endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.
Watch former Reagan spokesman, Doug Elmets, and Army Colonel Peter Mansoor explain why they are members of the Republicans for Hillary movement:
